This book examines core issues related to legal insanity integrating perspectives from
psychiatry law and ethics. Various criteria for insanity are analyzed and recommendations for
forensic psychiatric and legal practice are offered. Many legal systems have an insanity
defense in one form or another. Still it remains unclear exactly when and why mental
disorders affect a person's moral or criminal responsibility. Questions addressed in this book
include: Why should insanity be a component of our legal system? What should be the criteria
for an insanity defense? What would be the reasons for abolishing it? Who should bear the
burden of proof? Furthermore the book discusses the impact neurosciences may have on
psychiatric and psychological evaluations of defendants as well as on legal decisions about
insanity.
