The Role of Forensic Psychiatry in Substance Abuse - Practice and Research in Taiwan.

Substance abuse is an increasingly important medical and legal problem in Taiwan. This article reviews limited studies in Taiwan on the prevalence of substance abuse and psychiatric co-morbidity, and assessment of substance use disorder, with emphasis on their relation to forensic psychiatry. Complicated interaction exists among substance abuse, criminal behavior, and various mental disorders (including antisocial personality disorder). Forensic psychiatry can play an important role in both treatment and research aimed at overcoming the problems of substance abuse. Also discussed are the necessity in merging genetic analysis methods with forensic psychiatric assessment, and the implementation of treatment and rehabilitation programs for criminal offenders co-morbid with psychiatric illness.