The culpability of a person, as determined by due process of law, for any of his actions that are defined as criminal. Determination of such responsibility is a legal function, not a psychiatric one, although a psychiatrist may be called upon to present evidence to the court in order to aid the judge or jury in reaching a decision as to responsibility. Determination of responsibility varies with the laws of the state in which the accused is being tried, but in general all states base their laws on three famous judicial decisions concerning criminal responsibility.
1. the M\'Naghten(McNaughton) rule(a. to establish such a defense the accused, at the time the act was committed, must be shown to have been laboring under such defect of reason as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing, b. if he did know it, he did or know that what he was doing was wrong).
2. the irresistible impulse test.
3. the Durham decision.
Under the Durham test, however, the psychiatrist may give any relevant testimony concerning the mental illness at issue.
The psychological and behavioral appearance of a person, in clinical psychiatry this term is commonly used to refer to the results of the mental examination of a patient. The written report of the mental status usually contains specific references to the following areas:
I. Attitude and General Behavior
①General health and appearance. ②General habits of dress. ③Personal habits.
④General mood. ⑤Use of leisure time. ⑥Degree of sociability. ⑦Speech.
II. Attitude and Behavior during interview
①Co-operativeness. ②Poise. ③Facial expression. ④Motor activity. ⑤Mental activity.
⑥Emotional reactions. ⑦Trend of thought.
III. Sensorium, mental grasp, and capacity
①Orientation. ②Memory and retention. ③Estimate of intelligence.
④Abstraction ability. ⑤Tests of absurdity, interpretation of proverbs.
⑥Judgment.