Forensic Psychiatric Expert Assessment of Mental Disorders in Combatants

This article is based on materials from the study of the mental state of 87 combatants, which
included diagnostics of mental disorders and evaluation of their impact on the person’s ability to be
aware of their actions and (or) control them.
On the base of results of a comprehensive analysis, the professional, ideological, methodological,
and real-practical reasons for narrowing expert decisions in the current legislation were described.
The current data on the structure and features of the off enses committed by combatants were
received. Aggressive crimes against life and health made 58.9%. The clinical and situational
determinants of their aggressive behavior were revealed. Clinical and social characteristics of the
examined subjects were identifi ed and described in order to expand the conception of directions
and targets of their psychosocial rehabilitation.
The infl uence of mental and behavioral disorders in evaluated persons on the ability to be aware of
their actions and (or) control them were studied taking into account the changes introduced in the
legislation of Ukraine in recent years. The prevalence of mental disorders was 90.8%.
The algorithm for expert assessment of medical and legal criteria of the ability to be aware of their
actions and (or) control them was presented, on the base of which the criteria for choosing medicolegal
measures were determined. It lets to apply the diff erentiated choice of medico-legal measures
with the aim of ensuring justice, respecting the rights and freedoms of persons with mental
disorders, preventing repeated criminal actions.