"6. The Clinical Picture in A Focal Cerebral Disorder Lishman says at p.16 that strictly focal brain damage can be responsible for both acute and chronic organis reactions. He says that a frontal lesion may confer distinctive changes of disposition and temperment. Most characteristic is a disinhibition with expanisive overfamiliarity, tactlessness, overtalk[at]iveness, childish excitement or prankish and punning social and ethical control may be diminished with lack of concern for the future and for the consequence of actions. A sexual indiscretions and petty misdemeanours may ocur, or gross errors of judgement with regard to financial or interpersonal matters. Sometimes there is a marked indifference, even callousness for the feelings of others. Equally lack of anxiety and insight on the part of the patient into his or her condition. Elevation of mood is often seen, namely and empty and fatous euphoria rather than a true elation which communicates to the observer. In other cases the principal changes are lack opf initiative, aspontaneity and a profound slowing of psychomotor activity. Concentration, attention and ability to carry out a planned activity are impaired by thee changes but performances on test of formal intelligence is often surprisingly well preserved once the patients has been secured.
Reference:- Lishman, William Alwyn,
Classified under
World Health Organisation International Classification of Impairment Disability Handicap (1981).
Presented in
R v Bailiff 2011 ACTSC 214
Not guilty by reason of mental impairment precedent.
