What are the 30 common mental illnesses, disorders, and behaviors in forensic psychiatric assessment recognized by the Ministry of Health?
Who participates in forensic psychiatric examination?
Based on subsection I, Section A, Part 1 of the Forensic Psychiatric Examination Procedure issued together with Decision 2999/QD-BYT in 2022, the forensic psychiatric examiners are regulated as follows:
- Forensic psychiatric examiners are individuals appointed by the competent authority as forensic psychiatric examiners (hereinafter referred to as examiners, abbreviated as GDV) according to the provisions of the 2012 Law on Judicial Expertise. Each regular forensic psychiatric examination typically involves 03 GDVs. In complicated cases, where there are difficulties in diagnosing the disease and evaluating behavioral capacity, involving multiple medical specialties, or in the case of the first re-examination (first re-examination), there may be 05 GDVs. For the second re-examination (second re-examination) or special examination, additional forensic psychiatric experts can be invited, but the total number does not exceed 09 GDVs per case.
- Nurses manage, monitor, and care for the subjects being examined. Each examination case must have 02 assistant nurses.
30 common psychiatric diseases, disorders, and behaviors in forensic psychiatric examinations recognized by the Ministry of Health
What are the steps in the inpatient forensic psychiatric examination process?
According to subsection I, Section B of the Procedure issued together with Decision 2999/QD-BYT in 2022, the process for inpatient psychiatric examinations is as follows:
Inpatient examination is conducted at the forensic psychiatric examination facility and applies to cases where diagnosis and determination of the behavioral capacity of the subject being examined are difficult and complex, comprising the following steps:
Step 1: Receipt of examination request or inquiry documents:
- Examination request documents as specified in point 3, clause III, Section A or examination inquiry documents as specified in point 4, clause III, Section A of this Procedure must be sent to the Forensic Psychiatric Organization for research and consideration before deciding to accept the request or inquiry.
- The receipt of examination requests or inquiries and the delivery and receipt of examination request or inquiry documents are defined in clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 27 of the Law on Judicial Expertise.
- Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of sufficient examination request or inquiry documents, the Forensic Psychiatric Organization must respond in writing to the requester about the acceptance of the examination subject. In case of refusal to accept the request or inquiry, the document must clearly state the reason for the refusal.
- The forensic psychiatric examination organization may refuse to conduct the examination in cases specified in clause 2, Article 11 of the 2012 Law on Judicial Expertise (amended and supplemented by clause 7, Article 1 of the Law on Judicial Expertise amended 2020).
Step 2: Receipt of the examination subject
After the head or authorized representative of the Forensic Psychiatric Organization agrees in writing to accept the subject, the requester brings the examination subject to hand over to the Forensic Psychiatric Organization. The handover of examination subjects follows the provisions of clauses 4 and 5 of Article 27 of the Law on Judicial Expertise and must record a receipt of the examination subject using form number 2 or form number 4 in Appendix 2 or form number 2 in Appendix 3 issued together with Circular 23/2019/TT-BYT.
Step 3: Assignment of examination participants:
The head of the Forensic Psychiatric Organization issues a decision on the assignment of forensic psychiatric examiners. The assigned forensic psychiatric examiners (hereinafter referred to as participating examiners) operate under the collective examination mechanism stated in clause 3, Article 28 of the Law on Judicial Expertise, assigning a principal examiner and a secretary examiner.
Step 4: Researching the examination request or inquiry documents:
The assigned participating examiner must research the dossier provided by the requester. If necessary, the participating examiner collectively proposes the requesting organization or individual to supplement documentation or appoints examiners to directly collect additional documents. The secretary examiner compiles all related documents concerning the examination subject.
Step 5: Monitoring the examination subject:
a) The examination subject is placed in a monitoring room. If necessary, monitoring may be conducted via camera.
b) The participating examiner closely monitors and accurately records all changes of the examination subject into the forensic psychiatric evaluation medical record issued by the Minister of Health:
- If treatment is required for the subject, the Forensic Psychiatric Organization convenes a meeting according to Ministry of Health regulations to agree on the treatment direction. Outside office hours, if emergency intervention is needed, the on-duty doctor examines, intervenes, and documents the changes in the subject into the forensic psychiatric evaluation medical record.
- The maximum monitoring period is 06 (six) weeks per examination subject.
If an extension of the monitoring period is required, the participating examiner reports to the head of the Forensic Psychiatric Organization for a decision. The extension period is communicated to the requesting entity or individual in writing with a clear reason (the extended period should not exceed 03 (three) weeks).
Step 6: Clinical examination of the subject:
+ Psychiatric examination: detailed examination of all psychiatric activities;
+ Internal medicine and neurological examination;
+ Other specialized examinations (if necessary);
Step 7: Ancillary examinations for the subject:
Depending on specific cases, the examiner determines necessary tests for the examination subject.
Step 8: The secretary examiner compiles all related documents for the examination subject.
Step 9: Examination meeting for participating examiners.
Step 10: Conclusion of the examination based on medical standards and assessment of cognitive and behavioral control capacity.
Step 11: Compilation and archiving of examination dossiers
Step 12: Completion of examination
- The Forensic Psychiatric Organization returns the examination subject to the requester.
- The Forensic Psychiatric Organization delivers the examination conclusions directly to the person authorized by the requester (with a signed receipt)
What are the 30 common psychiatric diseases, disorders, and behaviors in forensic psychiatric examination?
On November 03, 2022, the Ministry of Health issued the forensic psychiatric examination procedure for 30 common psychiatric diseases/disorders attached to Decision 2999/QD-BYT in 2022.
As per the provisions in Part 2 of the forensic psychiatric examination procedure issued with Decision 2999/QD-BYT in 2022, 30 common psychiatric diseases, disorders, and behaviors are recorded as follows:
- Dementia in Pick's disease (F02.0)- Unspecified dementia (F03)- Mental and behavioral disorders due to cannabis use (F12)- Mental and behavioral disorders due to cocaine use (F14)- Mental and behavioral disorders due to other stimulants including caffeine (F15)- Catatonic schizophrenia (F20.2)- Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder with symptoms of schizophrenia (F23.1)- Hypomania (F30.0)- Bipolar affective disorder, currently in mixed episode (F31.6)- Bipolar affective disorder, currently in remission (F31.7)- Mild depressive episode (F32.0)- Moderate depressive episode (F32.1)- Recurrent depressive disorder, currently in remission (F33.4)- Cyclothymia (F34.0)- Panic disorder (F41.0)- Generalized anxiety disorder (F41.1)- Short depressive reaction (F43.20)- Prolonged depressive reaction (F43.21)- Mixed anxiety and depressive reaction (F43.22)- Dissociative stupor (F44.2)- Dissociative motor disorders (F44.4)- Dissociative convulsions (F44.5)- Other dissociative (conversion) disorders (F44.7)- Somatization disorder (F45.0)- Excessive sexual drive (F52.7)- Mild mental and behavioral disorders associated with childbirth, not classified elsewhere (F53.0)- Severe mental and behavioral disorders associated with childbirth, not classified elsewhere (F53.1)- Persistent personality changes after catastrophic experience (F62.0)- Persistent personality changes after psychiatric illness (F62.1)- Sexual deviation toward children (F65.4)
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