Clinical criminological analysis of neurasthenia among convicts
The author studied the role of neurasthenia (mental disorder) in criminal behavior. The author presented the long-term (1983-2014) results of a comparative study of people who were not prosecuted (control group) and the convicted (general group). It is proved that convicted had 2,25 times less neurasthenia than people in the control group. This indicates that neurasthenia plays no significant role in the mechanism of criminal behavior, contrary to previously published data. The inmates suffering from neurasthenia revealed a lack of attention and lack of ability to predict their own actions. At the same time the person is not fully deprived of the possibility of self-control. There is small focal neurological symptoms seen in patients suffering from neurasthenia. During the psychological examination an increase in MMPI Profile was noticed. According to polygraph study patients suffering from neurasthenia, there are brain bioelectric activity disorder in 42 % of cases, increased galvanic skin reflex, which suggests that people suffering from neurasthenia have a functional brain failure. These characteristics have determined the commission of careless crimes for which they were convicted. The custodial sentence caused the decompensation of neurasthenia. It was concluded that the convicts suffering from neurasthenia, are not dangerous to themselves (autoaggression) and others (geteroagression), they do not need the compulsory supervision and treatment by a psychiatrist, connected with the execution of punishment. They are directed to voluntary psychiatric treatment, psychological assistance aimed at improving mental health and quality of life, re-socialization, all of which will help to create the conditions for reducing relapse risk and achieving the goals of punishment.