Attitudes of Chinese community members and psychiatrists towards forensic psychiatric assessments.

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Chinese community members and psychiatrists towards forensic psychiatric assessments. A questionnaire designed to record attitudes toward the current forensic psychiatric assessment procedures and the disposal of mentally ill offenders was developed and distributed via a mobile App. A total of 134 community members and 132 psychiatrists voluntarily completed the questionnaire. Most of responders agreed that the department of public-security has the right to apply for a forensic psychiatric assessment but should not be held solely by that department. Community members were less significantly confident in the validation of forensic psychiatric opinions than were the psychiatrists. A significantly higher proportion of community members than psychiatrists considered that offenders judged Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD) should be punished as would be sane people. In addition, only a minority of responders supported that NCRMD should not be held criminally responsible. Our results indicate that both groups have comments on the current distribution of right of startup of forensic psychiatric assessments. Compared to psychiatrists, community members have lower confidence in the validation of forensic psychiatric assessment and have stricter attitudes toward the disposal of offenders with psychiatric disorders.

Summary of the 2008 national autoantibody testing quality control / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To consecutively understand the national clinical testing status and to reassure the quality-control of autoantibody detection. Methods Letter or telephone notification were conducted to the participating hospitals or departments. Autoantibodies for quality control survey included anti-nuclear anti-body (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti-extractable nuclear antigens (A-ENA), anti-mitochondria antibody (AMA)/anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), and anti-citrulline antibody (anti-CCP). Each had 3 control samples, and altogether 15 samples for testing. Sample distribution and data analysis were double-blinded. Results One hundred and two hospitals/departments participated in the national quality-control survey. The accurate rate for this survey was 70%, 88%, 93%, 85%, 79% respectively for ANA, anti-dsDNA, AMA, ASMA and anti-CCP. Anti-ENAs were further divided into anti-RNP, Sm, SSA, SSB and Scl-70 subgroups, and the accurate rate was 88%, 77%, 92%, 93% and 87% respectively. Conclu-sion Compared to the previous 4 national surveys, the accurate rates of ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-ENAs, AMA in our country's autoantibody testing is improved, and the detection rate of ASMA and anti-CCP antibody is also increased. More hospitals and testing items can test these autoantibodies, which implies that autoantibody testing status has been improving in our country.