Common mental impairments
Some of the mental impairments most commonly presented to the duty solicitor are:
- clinical psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), anxiety and panic disorders, and depressive disorders
- drug-induced psychosis associated with substance abuse
- chronic alcoholism and related brain injury
- intellectual disability
- personality and conduct disorders
- brain injury (congenital or trauma-related, including brain injury due to injury or long-term alcohol or substance abuse)
- co-morbidity where there are drug and/or alcohol dependence and mental health problems
- complex combinations of any of the above.
Common mental impairments : Last Revised: Tue Jul 15th 2025