Which psychological disorder is most commonly diagnosed in individuals found incompetent to stand trial?

• A. Major depressive disorder
• B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• C. Schizophrenia
• D. Bipolar disorder

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'incompetent to stand trial' (IST), which refers to a defendant's inability to understand the court proceedings or assist in their own defense due to mental illness or cognitive impairment.
2. Review common psychological disorders that can impair cognitive functioning and reality testing, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
3. Recognize that schizophrenia is characterized by symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, which can severely impair a person's ability to comprehend legal processes and communicate effectively with their attorney.
4. Compare the typical impact of each disorder on competency: while mood disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder) and OCD can affect functioning, they less frequently cause the level of cognitive impairment required for a finding of incompetence to stand trial.
5. Conclude that schizophrenia is the most commonly diagnosed disorder among individuals found incompetent to stand trial due to its profound effects on perception, thought processes, and reality testing.