A13 13..13

Two papers examining mental incapacity among psychiatric in-patients are presented in the Journal this month – one investigation focuses on assessment reliability (Cairns et al, pp. 372–378) and one on the prevalence and predictors of incapacity (Cairns et al, pp. 379–385). The authors find that the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT– T) can be used reliably to assess capacity, particularly when the instrument is used in conjunction with clinical interview. They also find that mental incapacity is common among psychiatric in-patients; 43.8% of the sample lacked treatment-related decision capacity. Among the socio-demographic and clinical variables considered, having poor insight and either a psychotic illness or bipolar disorder were factors found to predict incapacity.