Etiologic and Phenotypic Similarities between Medication-Induced Syndromes and Courts' Customary Interpretation of Mental Disease in Exculpatory Defenses

Abstract

There is a great deal of similarity between psychological disorders generally accepted by the courts as potentially exculpatory conditions, and the psychological syndrome often experienced by Parkinson's patients taking dopaminergic medications. A successful exculpatory defense must provide evidence of a mental disease or defect and sufficient cognitive or volitional impairment at the time of the offense. This medication-induced dopaminergic syndrome is consistent with courts' typical interpretation of a mental disease, and has key similarities (including pathophysiology and clinical presentation) with schizophrenia disorders, which courts generally consider exculpatory. All together, there is strong evidence that suggests medication-induced dopaminergic psychological conditions that are causally related to a crime could form the basis of a successful exculpatory defense considering courts' current interpretation of these criminal defenses.