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Abstract Book - International Academy of Law and Mental Health

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Lucres Jansen, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s (l.nauta@debascule.com)The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) system <strong>and</strong> Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)have been frequently studied in relation to antisocial behavior. However, most studies to datehave been cross-sectional, with single measurements <strong>of</strong> HPA <strong>and</strong> ANS activity. Evenlongitudinal studies including HPA <strong>and</strong> ANS activity as a possible predictor for future antisocialbehavior usually have not included repeated measurements <strong>of</strong> HPA <strong>and</strong> ANS activity. However,the activity <strong>of</strong> both systems is not only controlled by genetic/innate factors, but is also influencedby environmental (stress) factors. HPA <strong>and</strong> ANS activity in mental disorders may thus besusceptible to change over time. Two longitudinal studies on the development <strong>and</strong> persistence <strong>of</strong>antisocial behavior including repeated measurements <strong>of</strong> HPA or ANS activity in adolescencewill be presented. Also, the stability <strong>of</strong> HPA <strong>and</strong> ANS activity during adolescence will bediscussed from a more methodological point <strong>of</strong> view.Psychiatric Correlates <strong>of</strong> Competency to St<strong>and</strong> Trial in YoungOffendersEraka Bath, University <strong>of</strong> California at Los Angeles (ebath@mednet.ucla.edu)S<strong>of</strong>ia T. Sepanyan, University <strong>of</strong> California at Los Angeles (s<strong>of</strong>ia.stepanyan@yahoo.com)Much <strong>of</strong> the research on juvenile competency to st<strong>and</strong> trial (CST) has focused on age <strong>and</strong>intellectual functioning as consistent predictors <strong>of</strong> competency status. Clinical correlates <strong>of</strong> CSTstatus, such as psychopathology, diagnostic severity <strong>and</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> co-occurring disorders, areless understood in young <strong>of</strong>fenders. Only a limited number <strong>of</strong> studies have focused onpsychiatric disorders (Grisso, 2005) <strong>and</strong> diagnostic severity (Cowden <strong>and</strong> McKee, 1995; Vijoen,Roesch, & Zapf) as predictors <strong>of</strong> juvenile CST status. The current study aimed to investigate theextent to which diagnostic severity <strong>and</strong> psychiatric comorbidity predict CST status in a sample <strong>of</strong>324 juvenile participants in the Los Angeles County Juvenile <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Court. Preliminaryanalyses identified that age, intellectual functioning, mental retardation, pervasive developmentaldisorders, mood disorders, substance use disorders <strong>and</strong> psychotic disorders are significantcorrelates <strong>of</strong> CST status in young <strong>of</strong>fenders. Given that delinquent populations are at higher riskfor displaying mental <strong>and</strong> developmental disabilities, improved underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> therelationships between CST status <strong>and</strong> mental health conditions is critical <strong>and</strong> may provideguidance on determining the types <strong>of</strong> services <strong>and</strong> rehabilitation programming young <strong>of</strong>fendersmay need to proceed with their legal cases.14. Bringing <strong>Law</strong>yers <strong>and</strong> <strong>Health</strong>care Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals Together inTeaching, Decision-Making, <strong>and</strong> St<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong> CareInterdisciplinary Teaching Strategies in <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Law</strong>36

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