Multiple Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) in the Assessment of Criminal Defendants

Abstract

Psychiatric and psychological assessment of criminal defendants is often complicated by the retrospective nature requiring (1) an overreliance on self-reported data and (2) the need to achieve a high degree of certainty in formulating the diagnosis and subsequent expert opinion within the context of an adversarial evaluation. The Multiple Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) evaluation involves the application of an extensive diagnostic interview that has demonstrated a high degree of reliability and satisfactory validity in making current and lifetime diagnoses. The multiple SADS entails sequential administrations of the SADS, first to the defendant and later to significant others regarding the defendant's functioning during the time period in question. This comprehensive approach allows for the systematic examination of individual symptoms and the clear delineation of disparities and areas of agreement. Usefulness of the multiple SADS evaluation is exemplified in a case study involving criminal responsibility.

Interaction between Serotonin Transporter and Serotonin Receptor 1 B genes polymorphisms may be associated with antisocial alcoholism

“…The inter-rater reliability of the Chinese version of the modified SADS-L was good with the kappa values range from 0.71 to 1.00 in several major mental illness [54]. The SADS-L was also found to be adequate for diagnosing ASPD with or without alcoholism [6,55-57]. Participants with major mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, multiple substance abuse, or other organic mental disorders, and those who refused to participate (< 10%) were excluded from the study.…”

The association between DRD2/ANKK1, 5‐HTTLPR gene, and specific personality trait on antisocial alcoholism among Han Chinese in Taiwan

“…SADS-L proved to be a good measure of current psychiatric disorders and also identified individuals with past histories of psychiatric disorders, including alcohol dependence, antisocial personality disorder, etc. Spitzer, 1978, 1979;Hesselbrock et al, 1982;Kutcher et al, 1985;Rogers and Cunnien, 1986;Hasin and Grant, 1987;Merikangas et al, 1998]. Therefore, obtaining a clinical diagnosis through a valid structure diagnostic interview (SADS-L) to subtype antisocial alcoholism might be more valid than unsubtyped alcoholism.…”

“…Kappa values were used to examine test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the Chinese version of modified SADS-L [Huang et al, 2004]. SADS-L has been presented as an adequate diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder with or without alcoholism [Hesselbrock et al, 1982;Rogers and Cunnien, 1986]. We excluded those who were diagnosed with major mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, multiple substance abuse, other organic mental disorders, and those who refused to participate in this study.…”

Interaction between ALDH2*1*1 and DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A1A1 genes may be associated with antisocial personality disorder not co‐morbid with alcoholism

“…Furthermore, the SADS‐L was found to be adequate for diagnosing ASPD with or without alcoholism (Hesselbrock et al . 1982; Rogers & Cunnien 1986; Goodwin & Hamilton 2003; Lu et al . 2005).…”