PSYC 3402 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | PSYC 3402 FINAL
EXAM STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Media beliefs of persons with mental disorders - correct answer ✔✔They are of high risk and very
dangerous
truths about PMD - correct answer ✔✔Most individuals do not engage in crime or violence
-if they engage with crime it is mainly less serious offences
Mental disorder - correct answer ✔✔syndrome characterized by a clinically significant disturbance to
cognitions, emotions or behaviours
-causes disruption to basic functionalities of life
CJS and mental disorders - correct answer ✔✔- many individuals experiencing MD come into contact
with the system
-over-represented in contact with police, courts and correctional system
-contact with the CJS has increased over the years
Why CJS and MD contact has increased - correct answer ✔✔de-instituionalization... removal of
institutions set up to care for individuals with MD, resulting in a decrease of community resources and
police become first responders for MH
prevalence of MD with CJS - correct answer ✔✔1/4 PMD are arrested in their lifetime at least once
(25%)
1/10 PMD encounter police during intro to mental health system
Types of outcomes for contact with CJS - correct answer ✔✔1. convicted in the system
2. found unfit to stand trail (MH interferes with ability to attend court)
3. NCRMD (not criminally responsible on account of MD)
Assessment tools for outcome of trial - correct answer ✔✔Fitness interview test revised:
-nature or object of proceedings
-possible consequences of proceedings
-communication with counsel
NCRMD:
-retrospective assessment to assess accused's state of mind
-found not responsible if MD caused individual to be incapable of appreciating the nature of act or fact
that the act was wrong
best case to deal with PMD - correct answer ✔✔- respond to the mental disorder condition that is
causing criminal acts
-respond with an RNR model to identify RF and ways to decrease risk for future offending
Prevalence of NCRMD - correct answer ✔✔-very rare in Canada (<1%)
-majority of these cases were for individuals with a psychotic spectrum disorder experiencing
hallucinations and delusions
, -50% of times, victim is a family or known person
hallucinations - correct answer ✔✔false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence
of an external visual stimulus
delusions - correct answer ✔✔false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany
psychotic disorders
-cannot be changed in response to evidence
issue with CJS and MD - correct answer ✔✔data shows that MD are higher in prison samples compared
to the community samples
main themes of MD and CJS - correct answer ✔✔-ASPD and SUD are the most common in prison
samples
-psychotic disorders are rare in prison samples
-incarcerated women are more likely to have MH issues than males
-suicide is a serious problem in Canadian prisons
RF for PMD to engage in violence - correct answer ✔✔-ASPD
-criminal history
-substance abuse
-active psychosis
Threat/control override (TCO) - correct answer ✔✔Psychotic symptoms in which an individual feels that
their self-control is overridden by outside forces or feels they will be harmed by others
(delusional beliefs or command hallucinations)
5 areas of assessment for violence in PMD - correct answer ✔✔1. fitness to stand trial
2. NCRMD
3. mental health in prison (brief jail MH screen before entering the system)
4. suicide assessment
5. risk for violence (usually SPJ assessments work best for PMD)
MH courts - correct answer ✔✔courts designed specifically for PMD who come in contact with the
justice system
-provides assessments, treatment and better access to services and resources
-found to be effective for reduction in recidivism rates
RNR model for PMD - correct answer ✔✔-treat MH symptoms (TCO-delusions and hallucinations) as
criminogenic needs/RF and mental health diagnosis as specific responsivity factor
Pharmacological interventions - correct answer ✔✔meta-analysis shows treatment of PMD can result in
positive outcomes
-general MH outcomes and coping shows strongest effect
Changing Lives Changing Outcomes (CLCO) program - correct answer ✔✔developed by Morgan, Kroner
and Mills as a RNR program for individuals with major mental illness
-target both MH and criminogenic needs through cognitive behavioural treatment
EXAM STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Media beliefs of persons with mental disorders - correct answer ✔✔They are of high risk and very
dangerous
truths about PMD - correct answer ✔✔Most individuals do not engage in crime or violence
-if they engage with crime it is mainly less serious offences
Mental disorder - correct answer ✔✔syndrome characterized by a clinically significant disturbance to
cognitions, emotions or behaviours
-causes disruption to basic functionalities of life
CJS and mental disorders - correct answer ✔✔- many individuals experiencing MD come into contact
with the system
-over-represented in contact with police, courts and correctional system
-contact with the CJS has increased over the years
Why CJS and MD contact has increased - correct answer ✔✔de-instituionalization... removal of
institutions set up to care for individuals with MD, resulting in a decrease of community resources and
police become first responders for MH
prevalence of MD with CJS - correct answer ✔✔1/4 PMD are arrested in their lifetime at least once
(25%)
1/10 PMD encounter police during intro to mental health system
Types of outcomes for contact with CJS - correct answer ✔✔1. convicted in the system
2. found unfit to stand trail (MH interferes with ability to attend court)
3. NCRMD (not criminally responsible on account of MD)
Assessment tools for outcome of trial - correct answer ✔✔Fitness interview test revised:
-nature or object of proceedings
-possible consequences of proceedings
-communication with counsel
NCRMD:
-retrospective assessment to assess accused's state of mind
-found not responsible if MD caused individual to be incapable of appreciating the nature of act or fact
that the act was wrong
best case to deal with PMD - correct answer ✔✔- respond to the mental disorder condition that is
causing criminal acts
-respond with an RNR model to identify RF and ways to decrease risk for future offending
Prevalence of NCRMD - correct answer ✔✔-very rare in Canada (<1%)
-majority of these cases were for individuals with a psychotic spectrum disorder experiencing
hallucinations and delusions
, -50% of times, victim is a family or known person
hallucinations - correct answer ✔✔false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence
of an external visual stimulus
delusions - correct answer ✔✔false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany
psychotic disorders
-cannot be changed in response to evidence
issue with CJS and MD - correct answer ✔✔data shows that MD are higher in prison samples compared
to the community samples
main themes of MD and CJS - correct answer ✔✔-ASPD and SUD are the most common in prison
samples
-psychotic disorders are rare in prison samples
-incarcerated women are more likely to have MH issues than males
-suicide is a serious problem in Canadian prisons
RF for PMD to engage in violence - correct answer ✔✔-ASPD
-criminal history
-substance abuse
-active psychosis
Threat/control override (TCO) - correct answer ✔✔Psychotic symptoms in which an individual feels that
their self-control is overridden by outside forces or feels they will be harmed by others
(delusional beliefs or command hallucinations)
5 areas of assessment for violence in PMD - correct answer ✔✔1. fitness to stand trial
2. NCRMD
3. mental health in prison (brief jail MH screen before entering the system)
4. suicide assessment
5. risk for violence (usually SPJ assessments work best for PMD)
MH courts - correct answer ✔✔courts designed specifically for PMD who come in contact with the
justice system
-provides assessments, treatment and better access to services and resources
-found to be effective for reduction in recidivism rates
RNR model for PMD - correct answer ✔✔-treat MH symptoms (TCO-delusions and hallucinations) as
criminogenic needs/RF and mental health diagnosis as specific responsivity factor
Pharmacological interventions - correct answer ✔✔meta-analysis shows treatment of PMD can result in
positive outcomes
-general MH outcomes and coping shows strongest effect
Changing Lives Changing Outcomes (CLCO) program - correct answer ✔✔developed by Morgan, Kroner
and Mills as a RNR program for individuals with major mental illness
-target both MH and criminogenic needs through cognitive behavioural treatment
