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Purpose of Review: To review literature published worldwide during the past year on forensic psychiatry., Recent Findings: In Singapore, more homicides are committed by foreigners than nationals. In Israel, immigrants are less often involuntarily committed. In Australia, a community treatment order results in more rehospitalizations after the first admission and fewer rehospitalizations after subsequent admissions. In New Zealand, assertive community treatment with cultural engagement results in good outcome even for those offenders with a diagnosis of antisocial behavior., Summary: New findings are leading to public policy decisions and improved treatment methods.

Sixty-three male inpatient alcohol and drug addicts and 34 of their female partners participated in a study of variables associated with physical and nonphysical abuse of women. Results suggest that domestic abuse by male addicts is not directly related to experience of violence or addiction in the family of origin, external locus of control, or severity of alcohol abuse. Correlates of domestic abuse were an early onset of drug/alcohol-related problems; low income; a history of nonalcohol drug use, particularly cocaine; and a history of arrest and outpatient counseling.

Seizure durations were determined during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by a computer-automated procedure for interpreting electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) signals. These seizure durations were compared with durations determined by two experienced clinicians from simultaneous paper recordings of EEG and EMG and with independently recorded observations of cuffed-limb motor movements. The computer EEG seizure end point was programmed as the point where the moving average EEG voltage first fell below the pre-ECT value and remained there for at least 2 s. The computer EMG seizure end point was programmed as the point where the moving average EMG voltage first fell below 200 mV and remained there for at least 2 s. Close correspondence between seizure durations rated from EEG recordings and computer-automated EEG measurements demonstrated validity and high reliability of the computer procedure. Likewise, validity and reliability were demonstrated for motor seizure durations both computer-derived and interpreted from the paper EMG recording by their close correspondence with cuffed-limb motor seizure durations.