Proceedings

Editorial

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 127 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Preface of the Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice (GMFP 2026)

by Michael Fritz, Christian Götzl and Manuela Dudeck

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150001 - 13 Aug 2026

Viewed by 292

Abstract

The field of forensic psychiatry holds a unique position at the intersection of mental health care, neuroscience, psychology, criminology, ethics, and law [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

2 pages, 123 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Developing a National Database on Forensic-Psychiatric Patients: The CONNECT Study

by Katja Köppen and Birgit Völlm

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150002 - 17 Aug 2026

Viewed by 151

Abstract

Background: Forensic concepts should be guided by current evidence. However, there is currently a lack of even basic information on individuals who have committed a criminal offence in relation to a mental disorder in Germany. Methods: The CONNECT project aims to add knowledge [...] Read more.

Background: Forensic concepts should be guided by current evidence. However, there is currently a lack of even basic information on individuals who have committed a criminal offence in relation to a mental disorder in Germany. Methods: The CONNECT project aims to add knowledge on this patient group by conducting an annual survey of all forensic psychiatric hospitals in Germany. The resulting database will include comprehensive clinical, legal and socio-demographic data. The project aims are (a) to offer a much-needed overview of the sociodemographic, clinical, offending and treatment data of this group, (b) to identify predicting factors associated with leave status and discharge, and (c) to establish rates of reconviction and its predictors at a three-year follow-up. Results: This contribution examines the procedures and obstacles associated with the establishment of the survey. These include concerns about data protection, the necessity of engaging and persuading the ministries of each federal German state, and the scarcity of resources within hospitals, as well as hospital organization and communication. The objective is to foster an understanding of the implementation of a national reference date survey. Conclusions: It is anticipated that this project will have a substantial impact within clinical and academic contexts, while also offering value to policymakers and care providers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 126 KB

Open AccessAbstract

A Latent Class Analysis of Mental Disorders, Substance Use, and Aggressive Antisocial Behaviour Among Swedish Forensic Psychiatric Patients

by Johan Green, Ann-Sophie Lindqvist Bagge, Natalie Laporte, Peter Andiné, Märta Wallinius and Malin Hildebrand Karlén

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150003 - 17 Aug 2026

Viewed by 133

Abstract

Patients in forensic mental health services (FMHS) with co-occurring mental disorders (MD), substance use disorders (SUD), and a history of violent crime—often referred to as the “triply troubled”—represent one of the most clinically complex and poorly researched patient populations. Standard diagnostics tend to [...] Read more.

Patients in forensic mental health services (FMHS) with co-occurring mental disorders (MD), substance use disorders (SUD), and a history of violent crime—often referred to as the “triply troubled”—represent one of the most clinically complex and poorly researched patient populations. Standard diagnostics tend to treat this group as homogeneous, which may impede the development of patient-centred treatment and risk management. This study aimed to identify patient subgroups within this population based on patterns of MDs, substance use history, and aggressive antisocial behaviour (AAB). A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted using clinical data from 119 patients at a high-security FMHS facility in Sweden. Indicator variables included lifetime diagnoses of SUD and MDs and types of substances used. History of AAB and criminal offending were used as distal outcomes. A four-class solution provided the best model fit. Class 1 (polysubstance, high AAB; 100% SUD probability) and Class 4 (polysubstance, bipolar disorder; 49% SUD probability) exhibited pronounced criminal and AAB history. Class 2 (psychosis and cannabis-limited substance use) and Class 3 (autism and limited substance use) represented less criminologically ladened subgroups. Notably, Classes 1 and 4 shared extensive AAB histories despite differing SUD diagnostic probabilities, highlighting the limitations of diagnosis alone as a basis for risk assessment. The four-class typology offers a clinically meaningful framework for stratifying triply troubled patients in FMHS, aligning with the Risk–Need–Responsivity model and severity-graded treatment recommendations The typology has direct implications for treatment differentiation, relapse prevention, and risk management in forensic psychiatric settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 128 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Patterns of Substance Use in a Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Germany

by Finn Sörensen and Birgit Völlm

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150004 - 19 Aug 2026

Viewed by 144

Abstract

Background: This presentation is based on a paper that was published last year in the peer-reviewed journal Recht & Psychiatrie [¹]. The study investigates consumption patterns in patients who have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and are being treated [...] Read more.

Background: This presentation is based on a paper that was published last year in the peer-reviewed journal Recht & Psychiatrie [¹]. The study investigates consumption patterns in patients who have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and are being treated in a forensic psychiatric hospital under section 64 of the German penal code. High cost of treatment and a higher risk of reoffending when terminated prematurely underlines the importance of determining who has a high chance of completing treatment and why. It is important to note, that the investigation of dynamic predictors of recidivism in patients who undergo mandatory forensic addiction treatment has been insufficiently examined. One dynamic factor could be the consumption pattern during treatment. Relapses during addiction treatment is not uncommon and relapse rates range from 16.7 to 81.6%. However, evidence shows that moderate consumption does not necessarily have a negative effect on legal prognosis. So far, there are no clear findings as to how substance use during therapy affects recidivism or early treatment termination. Furthermore, consumption patterns have not yet been conclusively conceptualized. Studies don’t go beyond quantifying relapses and only investigate factors that promote or protect patients from relapsing. So far, there has been no investigation of actual consumption patterns during forensic mandatory treatment. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide a description and classification of consumption patterns, identify factors that promote substance use or encourage abstinence and describe the relationship between consumption patterns and treatment termination. Methods: This qualitative study examined the components of consumption patterns via 17 interviews with patients, who underwent mandatory treatment in a forensic psychiatric hospital in Germany and two focus groups with employees of the same hospital. Results: Findings show different patterns: temporal, observed and internal. A temporal pattern can be divided into five overarching types (progressive, regressive, constant, intermittent, chaotic). Internal patterns of factors within and outside the patient constitute the observed consumption patterns. Conclusions: The reflection of the observed behavior allows therapeutic intervention points. Future studies should validate the components and further investigate the relationship between certain patterns of consumption behavior and recidivism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

1 pages, 118 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Ethical Pros and Cons of Research on Particularly Vulnerable Patient Populations

by Irina Franke

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150005 - 19 Aug 2026

Viewed by 163

Abstract

Background: Research involving particularly vulnerable patient populations represents a central ethical challenge in contemporary medicine. On the one hand, inclusion of these groups is essential to ensure evidence-based care and to prevent health inequities. On the other hand, they require special protection due [...] Read more.

Background: Research involving particularly vulnerable patient populations represents a central ethical challenge in contemporary medicine. On the one hand, inclusion of these groups is essential to ensure evidence-based care and to prevent health inequities. On the other hand, they require special protection due to limited autonomy, structural dependency, and increased risk of exploitation. Methods: This presentation examines the tension between necessary inclusion and ethical risk through the lens of core bioethical principles and current research ethics frameworks. Forensic psychiatry serves as a paradigmatic example, as clinical care, research, and legal control are closely intertwined. Results: The presentation focuses on three key dimensions of risk: limited autonomy, potential exploitation, and distorted consent processes. It further highlights that ethical risks are not uniform but vary depending on the type of research, such as therapeutic interventions, neurobiological studies, or risk assessment research. This underscores the need for nuanced ethical evaluation rather than categorical inclusion or exclusion. Conclusions: The presentation argues that the ethical imperative is not to exclude vulnerable populations from research, but to include them under conditions that ensure transparency, fairness, and heightened protection. Practical approaches to ethical responsible research include enhanced consent procedures, independent advocacy, and context-sensitive study design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 135 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Immunological and Lipid Metabolic Markers of Aggression

by Michael Fritz, Karlheinz Holzmann, Priscila Batista da Rosa, Judith Streb, David Engblom and Manuela Dudeck

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150006 - 19 Aug 2026

Viewed by 141

Abstract

Background: Aggression and violence are complex behavioral phenomena with substantial biological underpinnings involving immune activation and lipid metabolism. Previous evidence has linked inflammatory signaling and altered cholesterol homeostasis to impulsive and antisocial behaviors. The present exploratory study investigated differential gene expression patterns associated [...] Read more.

Background: Aggression and violence are complex behavioral phenomena with substantial biological underpinnings involving immune activation and lipid metabolism. Previous evidence has linked inflammatory signaling and altered cholesterol homeostasis to impulsive and antisocial behaviors. The present exploratory study investigated differential gene expression patterns associated with severe violent offending and their relationship with aggression-related phenotypes. Methods: Whole-blood samples from 19 male severe violent offenders and 11 healthy controls were analyzed using Clariom S gene expression arrays followed by qPCR validation. Participants additionally completed psychometric assessments including the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory-II (STAXI-II), the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R), and the Appetitive and Facilitative Aggression Scale (AFAS). Results: Differential expression analysis identified 833 significantly dysregulated genes (FDR < 0.1; fold change ≥ 1.5) in violent offenders relative to controls. Among the most strongly altered genes were IL1B, TLR4, PTGS2 (COX-2), ABCA1, IL6R, PRF1, and MMP9. qPCR validation confirmed significant upregulation of MMP9, PTGS2, IL6R, and PRF1. Gene x behavior analyses demonstrated significant associations between PTGS2 expression and reactive as well as outwardly directed aggression, while MMP9 expression correlated with psychopathy-related traits. Furthermore, several lipid metabolism-related genes, including ABCA1, ABCG1, NPC1, DGAT2, and TLR4, showed expression patterns suggestive of altered intracellular lipid trafficking and lysosomal lipid accumulation. ABCA1 expression correlated positively with outward anger expression (STAXI-II), whereas ABCG1 and TLR4 were negatively associated with inwardly expressed anger (STAXI-II). Conclusions: These findings support a model in which innate immune activation and dysregulated lipid metabolism contribute to aggression-related phenotypes and severe violent behavior. Although exploratory and limited by sample size, the results highlight potential molecular pathways underlying pathological aggression and warrant further investigation in larger cohorts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

1 pages, 118 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Long Lasting Impacts: The Role of Childhood Adversity for Treatment Completion in Prison Rehabilitation

by Hedwig Eisenbarth

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150007 - 19 Aug 2026

Viewed by 142

Abstract

Background: People in prison have a higher prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) compared to the general population. This has been found across different cultural contexts. While treatment programs for people in prison have moderate completion rates, the impact of ACEs on peoples’ [...] Read more.

Background: People in prison have a higher prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) compared to the general population. This has been found across different cultural contexts. While treatment programs for people in prison have moderate completion rates, the impact of ACEs on peoples’ treatment and outcomes has been neglected in research, especially for men. Methods/Results: In a series of studies with men attending violent offending treatment programs, it was shown that the ability to complete treatment was substantially impacted by adverse childhood experiences. The association between diver-sity of childhood adversities and treatment outcomes was not better explained by posttraumatic symptoms or antisocial, borderline or psychopathic personality traits. Conclusions: Replication of these associations in various cultural contexts, implications for forensic assessment and treatment practice should be considered. Future research should investigate the pathways for these associations, including physiological and hormonal changes due to the adverse experiences, and acute stress reactivity in interpersonal interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 126 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Predictors of Violence in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Multimodal Approach

by Aline Huynh, Unn K. Haukvik, Megan Campbell, Kristien van der Walt and Jaroslav Rokicki

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150008 - 20 Aug 2026

Viewed by 207

Abstract

Background: The risk of violence is elevated in patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD). However, current violence risk assessment approaches rely predominantly on clinical and historical factors and remain limited in predictive accuracy, highlighting the need for more objective complementary markers. Methods: The [...] Read more.

Background: The risk of violence is elevated in patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD). However, current violence risk assessment approaches rely predominantly on clinical and historical factors and remain limited in predictive accuracy, highlighting the need for more objective complementary markers. Methods: The present study examined the neurobiological differences between violent (n = 66) and non-violent (n = 166) SSD patients, and compared the predictive utility of these neurobiological markers and clinical risk factors, including childhood trauma and psychopathology, in distinguishing violent from non-violent individuals. We further aimed to construct a multimodal predictive model using the strongest predictors from both domains, evaluating whether combining neural and clinical variables improves predictive performance beyond either single domain. Structural and resting-state MRI scans were acquired for patients and healthy controls (n = 504), who were used to calibrate the normative model. Neuroimaging data were analyzed within a normative modelling framework, and univariate associations between neurobiological and clinical factors and violence were examined. Results: A multimodal model integrating neurobiological and clinical measures achieved moderate classification performance (74.7% balanced accuracy), outperforming all individual predictors. The strongest predictors included the medial orbitofrontal cortex, caudal middle frontal gyrus, limbic-default mode network functional connectivity, and childhood sexual abuse. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that alterations in fronto-limbic systems involved in goal-directed decision-making and emotion regulation may contribute to violent behaviour in SSD. Furthermore, the improved performance of the multimodal model supports the potential added utility of integrating neuroimaging markers with established clinical risk factors in violence risk assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 135 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Genes and Environment in Shaping Human Behavior: Legal and Forensic Perspectives

by Silvia Pellegrini, Sara Palumbo and Lucia Billeci

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150009 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 179

Abstract

Background: Research in behavioral genetics has demonstrated that genetic factors significantly contribute to individual differences in behavior, while environmental exposures shape gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. This interaction is also relevant to the development of antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. One of the [...] Read more.

Background: Research in behavioral genetics has demonstrated that genetic factors significantly contribute to individual differences in behavior, while environmental exposures shape gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. This interaction is also relevant to the development of antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. One of the first evidence of gene–environment interaction was the association between low-activity variants of the MAOA gene, childhood maltreatment, and increased risk of antisocial behavior [¹]. Similarly, our research in incarcerated populations showed that adverse paternal parenting is associated with higher levels of psychopathy and the HTR1B rs13212041 TT genotype appears to modulate the individual susceptibility to negative experiences [²]. Single genetic variants, however, exert only modest effects and current evidence supports a polygenic model in which multiple genetic factors interact with environmental adversity to influence neurodevelopment and behavioral outcomes. Using a genome-wide/endophenotype informed analysis, for example, we identified novel gene–environment interactions as risk factors for psychopathy, involving three independent genetic loci in interaction with paternal maltreatment, which were previously associated with disruptive behavior, temperament, and neuroticism [³]. More recently, we also evaluated whether machine-learning models, integrating behavioral, environmental, and genetic variables, could be helpful to predict psychopathic traits. Methods: We compared logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, XGBoost, and multilayer perceptron. Results: Support vector machine showed the highest accuracy for predicting Psychopathy Check List-Revised (PCL-R) Factor 2 (antisocial lifestyle). Feature-importance analyses identified impulsivity (BIS-11), empathy (IRI), childhood maltreatment (MOPS), and 12 SNPs as the most informative predictors. Notably, removing genetic variables or MOPS scores substantially reduced the model accuracy, indicating that both genetic and environmental information meaningfully contributed to prediction of antisocial behavior. Conclusions: These findings confirm that genetic influences are neither deterministic nor sufficient to explain criminal behavior but may contribute to interindividual differences in vulnerability, particularly through their interaction with environmental and psychosocial factors. In forensic psychiatry, the integration of genetic and environmental information into behavioral assessment may provide additional objective correlates that complement, rather than replace, traditional clinical and psychosocial evaluations. Such an integrated approach could potentially contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of individual vulnerability and behavioral trajectories. However, the use of genetic information in assessments of criminal responsibility should be approached with caution and proven expertise, given the complex, multifactorial nature of antisocial and criminal behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 126 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Gaze Behavior Towards Children in Pedophilia and Hebephilia

by Puyan Heindl and Kolja Schiltz

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150010 - 26 Aug 2026

Viewed by 137

Abstract

Background: Indirect measurement methods play a central role in the assessment of deviant sexual interests, including pedohebephilia. Among these approaches, eye-tracking paradigms that assess gaze behavior may serve as indirect indicators of deviant vs. non-deviant sexual interest. However, the diagnostic utility of [...] Read more.

Background: Indirect measurement methods play a central role in the assessment of deviant sexual interests, including pedohebephilia. Among these approaches, eye-tracking paradigms that assess gaze behavior may serve as indirect indicators of deviant vs. non-deviant sexual interest. However, the diagnostic utility of eye-tracking measures for distinguishing pedohebephilia from sexual interest in adults (teleiophilia) remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine differences in gaze behavior among individuals with pedohebephilic and teleiophilic sexual interest and to determine the extent to which eye-tracking measures can differentiate pedophilia and hebephilia from teleiophilia. Method: Gaze behavior was assessed using an eye tracker while images of children were presented alongside images of adults. Gaze measures included the time to first fixation, first fixation count and total duration of fixation. Sexual interest was determined through a clinical interview as part of a standard intake procedure of an outpatient prevention program. Results: The sample comprised men with pedophilia, hebephilia and a teleiophilic control group. Men with pedophilic sexual interest showed a significantly higher number of first fixations and a shorter time to first fixation on child stimuli compared with adult stimuli, while the teleiophilic group showed the opposite pattern. Findings for the hebephilic group were inconclusive. Total fixation duration was more evenly distributed between child and adult stimuli in the pedophilic group, whereas the other two groups showed longer fixation durations for adult stimuli [¹]. Conclusions: The findings suggest that eye-tracking may provide a useful additional approach for assessing deviant sexual interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 131 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Multimodal Correlates of Aggression Potential in Early-Stage Psychosis: Integrating Brain Structure, Polygenic Risk, and Social Adversity

by Clara Weyer, Clara Vetter, Jaroslav Rokicki, Unn Kristin Haukvik, Kolja Schiltz, Peter Falkai, Nikolaos Koutsouleris, David Popovic and the PRONIA Consortium

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150011 - 27 Aug 2026

Viewed by 134

Abstract

Introduction: Aggression in early-stage mental disorders imposes a substantial clinical and societal burden and is shaped by environmental, neurobiological, and genetic factors. Understanding their joint contribution could aid risk assessment and early intervention. Methods: We used data from the prospective, multicentric European PRONIA [...] Read more.

Introduction: Aggression in early-stage mental disorders imposes a substantial clinical and societal burden and is shaped by environmental, neurobiological, and genetic factors. Understanding their joint contribution could aid risk assessment and early intervention. Methods: We used data from the prospective, multicentric European PRONIA project, comprising 402 minimally medicated participants (mean [SD] age = 25.34 [5.84]; female sex = 49.5%) with clinical high-risk states for psychosis (n = 116), recent-onset depression (n = 146) or psychosis (n = 140). Multi-block sparse partial least squares (MB-SPLS) algorithm was employed within a nested cross-validation framework to detect multivariate associations between aggression potential (excited component of the PANSS), social adversity, structural and diffusion MRI, and polygenic risk. Post hoc analyses examined specificity to overall illness severity and associations with personality, emotion recognition, coping, resilience, and functional remission. Results: MB-SPLS linked higher aggression potential in recent-onset psychosis to greater discrimination, emotional and physical trauma, bullying, higher polygenic risk for anxiety, schizophrenia, tension, and bipolar disorder, ventricular enlargement, reduced fronto-parietal-temporal white matter volume, and microstructural alterations of commissural, association, and limbic tracts. This signature was related to, but not fully explained by, illness severity and was associated with lower agreeableness, impaired emotion recognition, and poorer functional remission. Conclusions: Aggression potential in early psychosis corresponds to a distinct, multilevel biotype spanning environmental adversity, genetic liability, and predominantly white matter alterations, and is related to but not reducible to overall illness severity. Associations with social cognition, personality, and functional outcome highlight its clinical relevance and potential target points for early identification and intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 123 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Involving Service Users in Research in Forensic Psychiatry

by Eva Drewelow and Birgit Völlm

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150012 - 27 Aug 2026

Viewed by 104

Abstract

Background: The involvement of people with lived experience in psychiatric research is gaining momentum internationally, yet forensic psychiatry remains largely absent from this development—particularly in Germany. Highly regulated settings, stigma, and institutional barriers make meaningful service user involvement both rare and challenging. The [...] Read more.

Background: The involvement of people with lived experience in psychiatric research is gaining momentum internationally, yet forensic psychiatry remains largely absent from this development—particularly in Germany. Highly regulated settings, stigma, and institutional barriers make meaningful service user involvement both rare and challenging. The PART Advisory Board serves as a best practice model for conducting research not merely about service users, but genuinely with them—as co-researchers throughout the entire research process. Methods: The PART Advisory Board brings together researchers and individuals with lived experience, including current inpatients and formerly detained persons. Involvement spans all phases of research—from topic identification and study design to recruitment and data collection. Examples include structured project presentations with guideline-based feedback aimed at achieving active participation within entire projects—such as serving as an expert panel for guidelines on VR use in forensic settings. Board members also revise patient information materials, co-develop flyers, and present them as co-speakers at conferences. Results: This multi-level involvement improves research quality, relevance, and acceptance. Researchers gain practice-oriented perspectives that refine methods and strengthen interpretation. Board members experience empowerment through recognition of their expertise. Initial analyses confirm that participatory structures are feasible in highly regulated forensic contexts when roles are clear, attitudes are respectful, and communication is continuous. Conclusions: The PART Advisory Board demonstrates that participatory research in forensic psychiatry is both achievable and enriching. Successful implementation requires tailored processes, flexible structures, and individual support throughout the research journey—offering a transferable model for embedding service user involvement as a permanent part of forensic research and practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

2 pages, 111 KB

Open AccessAbstract

Should Biological Markers Be Included in Forensic Psychiatric Reports?

by Unn Kristin Hauvik

Proceedings 2026, 150(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2026150013 - 1 Sep 2026

Viewed by 76

Abstract

Background: Across jurisdictions, forensic psychiatry evaluations primarily rely on clinical assessment, psychometric testing, and historical and behavioural information. Following advances in neuroscience and neurolaw, there is a growing interest in incorporating biological markers (such as structural and functional neuroimaging (structural MRI, CT, fMRI), [...] Read more.

Background: Across jurisdictions, forensic psychiatry evaluations primarily rely on clinical assessment, psychometric testing, and historical and behavioural information. Following advances in neuroscience and neurolaw, there is a growing interest in incorporating biological markers (such as structural and functional neuroimaging (structural MRI, CT, fMRI), electrophysiology (EEG)) into forensic psychiatric reports. Empirical studies indicate that courts are increasingly encountering such data, particularly in cases of homicide, severe violence, insanity evaluations, and capital sentencing. Methods/Results: Neuroimaging can document brain disease or injury that may impair cognition, affect regulation, or impulse control, important to assessment of criminal accountability, and future risk. Biological markers may corroborate psychiatric and neurological diagnoses, and as such make expert reasoning more transparent. Assessments that omit biological investigations may be considered incomplete, with a risk of undermining fair judicial process and equality before the law, as well as hampering future treatment and risk management. However, there are notable challenges that limit the use of biomarkers in forensic psychiatry evaluations. Neuroscientific findings have methodological and inferential limitations affecting their practical use in individual cases. Furthermore, there is a mismatch between the empirical nature of neuroscience and the normative legal questions such as those of criminal accountability and intent. Additional concerns include risks of over-interpretation (“brain overclaim”), “double-edged sword” effects (mitigation versus inferred dangerousness), inequitable access, and the absence of robust, jurisdiction-specific standards. Conclusions: The inclusion of biological markers in forensic psychiatry evaluations has considerable potential benefits but also raises challenges that need to be addressed in future practice, research, and guideline development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Proceedings, 2026, GMFP 2026

The International Online Conference: Global Minds in Forensic Psychiatry—Advancing Research and Practice

Editorial

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI