RESTORATION OF COMPETENCE TO STAND TRIAL - ASSESSMENT WITH THE GEORGIA COURT COMPETENCE TEST AND THE COMPETENCE SCREENING-TEST

Evaluations of the Georgia Court Competency Test-Mississippi Version R evised (GCCT-MSH) and the Competency Screening Test (CST) have support ed their use with pretrial defendants in initial assessment of compete ncy to stand trial. The present study evaluated the efficacy of these measures, as well as the Texas Competency instrument with an inpatient sample of defendants involved in a competency restoration program. Bo th measures were factor analyzed in an attempt to replicate previously identified factor structures. Neither factor structure was replicated ; however a distinct factor structure was identified for the GCCT-MSH. The relationships among sociodemographic variables, clinical variable s, current symptomatology, and competency status (as measured by the G CCT-MSH) were evaluated using discriminant function analyses. The best predictors of GCCT-incompetency in this sample are a diagnosis of eit her a psychotic disorder or a nonpsychotic affective disorder as well as a low measured IQ. Current symptomatology, as measured by the SCL-9 0-R, was not an effective predictor of competency status.