P-19CHARACTERISTICS OF FORENSIC CASES WITH ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE SYNDROME IN JAPAN

Introduction. A certain number of alcoholic patients are unable to adapt to conventional alcoholism treatment and are forcibly discharged from hospital treatment. This study attempted to find their characteristics in order to present a clue in treating them by analyzing forensic cases with alcohol dependence syndrome. Methods. Data came from offenders who were ordered psychiatric evaluation by Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office (n = 478). Forensic cases with alcohol dependence syndrome (FADS) were 106 versus cases with other mental disorders (FOMD) were 372. Results. The two groups differed significantly. Percentage of junior high school graduates (55.7%:37.9%) was high in FADS, and college graduates (3.8%:15.3%) was high in FOMD. Majority of FADS (68.9%) cases had psychiatric consultation history. Percentage of over 3 criminal records (50.0%:32.3%) was high in FADS and no criminal records (18.9%:40.3%) was high in FOMD. Conclusion. Most of the forensic cases with alcohol dependence syndrome had psychiatric treatment history and had committed crimes over 3 times. Prevention of subsequent offence and relapse of the syndrome would be the focus of treatment. The level of teaching programs should be easy enough, specifically junior high school level, to suit their learning level.