Forensic psychology: Part 4: Assessing offender populations: Appendix chapter 10

Clinical disorders and other disorders which may be the focus of clinical attention.

Disorders usually first evident in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Includes such disorders as mental retardation, attention deficits and eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa), organic mental disorders, substance-use disorders (e.g., alcohol, cocaine), schizophrenic disorders, paranoid disorders, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders (e.g., hypochondriasis) and dissociative disorders (e.g., multiple personalities).

Personality disorders and mental retardation.

Includes such examples as paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, borderline, avoidant, dependent, compulsive and passive-aggressive. These are stable maladaptive patterns of behaviour, assumed to have become established during development, which are evident over substantial periods of time.

General medical conditions

Psychosocial and environmental problems.

Problems with primary support group, problems related to the social environment, educational problems, occupational problems, housing problems, economic problems, problems with access to health care services, problems related to interaction with the legal system/crime and other psychosocial and environmental problems.

Highest level of adaptive functioning during the past year.

100 Superior functioning in a wide range of activities, life's problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many positive qualities. No symptoms.
90 Absent or minimal symptoms, good functioning in al areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns.
80 If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors. No more than slight impairment in social, occupational or school functioning.
70 Some mild symptoms OR some difficulty in social, occupational or school functioning, but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships.
60 Moderate symptoms OR moderate difficulty in social occupational or school functioning.
50 Serious symptoms OR any serious impairment in social occupational or school functioning.
40 Some impairment in reality testing or communication OR major impairment in several areas such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.
30 Behaviour is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment in communication or judgment OR inability to function in almost all areas.
20 Some danger of hurting self or others OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR gross impairment in communication.
10 Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others OR persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death.