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IntroductionPsychotic disorders have been associated with dysregulated stress reactions and adaptation. Little is known about the neuroendocrine responses to psychosocial stress in justice-involved individuals with schizophrenia. MethodsUsing an experimental research design, the present study aims to examine differences in the subjective and neuroendocrine responses to psychosocial stress and its impact on facial emotion recognition (FER) and performance on an arithmetic task in chronically ill justice-involved individuals with schizophrenia (PAT) and a healthy control group. PAT undergoing treatment in forensic psychiatric inpatient wards (n = 17) and a healthy control group (n = 17) were assessed regarding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Additionally, salivary cortisol levels, measured before and after performing a psychosocial stress task [Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST)], and performance on an arithmetic problem-solving task and two FER tasks were recorded. Two participants dropped out, one from each group. Therefore, the final sample consisted of 32 individuals. ResultsSignificant group differences in FER were recorded. There was a significant rise in subjective perception of momentary strain relating to the induction of psychosocial stress in both groups. Notably, the pre-stress level of subjective strain was higher in the PAT group than controls. Acute psychosocial stress induced an increase in FER performance in a sub-task related to naming emotions in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. DiscussionThe results underline the importance of psychosocial and therapeutic interventions aimed at strengthening stress resilience in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Nach aktueller Rechtsprechung ist die Begutachtung der Schuldfähigkeit und Massnahmenindikation Personen mit Facharzttitel für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie vorbehalten. Der damit verbundene Ausschluss von Psycholog:innen ist angesichts der Entwicklungen in den letzten zehn Jahren nicht gerechtfertigt. Die Autor:innen zeigen auf, unter welchen Weiterbildungsbedingungen Psycholog:innen als Sachverständige geeignet sind. -- Selon la jurisprudence actuelle, seuls des personnes détenant un titre de médecin spécialiste en psychiatrie et psychothérapie sont autorisés à réaliser les expertises en matière de responsabilité et d'indication de mesures. L'exclusion des psychologues, qui en découle, ne se justifie pas au vu des évolutions de ces dix dernières années. Les auteur·e·s démontrent les formations continues nécessaires pour que des psychologues soient apte à effectuer de telles expertises.