Fitness to plead: the role of neuropsychological assessment and the experience of legal professionals
dc.contributor.advisor
O'Rourke, Suzanne
dc.contributor.author
Harris, Susan
dc.date.accessioned
2022-02-02T12:53:34Z
dc.date.available
2022-02-02T12:53:34Z
dc.date.issued
2021-12-01
dc.description.abstract
Internationally, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS; Wechsler, 2008) is commonly used to
aid in the determination of fitness to plead (FtP), yet the cognitive profiles of defendants deemed fit
or unfit to plead remain poorly understood. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the
similarities and differences in performance on the WAIS between defendants deemed fit to plead
(FtP) and unfit to plead (UtP), along with the use of performance validity tests in this population.
Performance was compared between FtP (n= 979) and UtP (n= 690) defendants in eleven studies
(n=1669). Full Scale IQ, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ and individual subtests were meta-analysed
using a random effects model that indicated individuals deemed FtP scored significantly higher than
UtP defendants across all indices and 9 subtests. The largest effect was observed in the
comprehension subtest. Both groups scored within the ‘low average’ and ‘borderline’ classifications
on most subtests, translating to a difference of approximately five standard scores or one scaled
score between groups. This review extends previous literature that has reported significant
differences only in Full-Scale IQ and, to our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis examining
WAIS subtest performance in this population. These findings are consistent with previous literature
that suggest language and working memory are of central importance in the determination of FtP.
Findings from this meta-analysis highlight both the utility and shortcomings of the WAIS in informing
the determination of FtP.
en
dc.identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1842/38515
dc.identifier.uri
http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/1779
dc.language.iso
en
en
dc.publisher
The University of Edinburgh
en
dc.subject
Fitness to Plead
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dc.subject
Competency to Stand Trial
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dc.subject
Neuropsychological Assessment
en
dc.subject
Cognition
en
dc.subject
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
en
dc.title
Fitness to plead: the role of neuropsychological assessment and the experience of legal professionals
en
dc.type
Thesis or Dissertation
en
dc.type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
en
dc.type.qualificationname
DClinPsychol Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
en
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