Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuropsychiatric Diagnosis

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Oregon Health and Science University will establish a multidisciplinary institute that can apply new diagnostic criteria to the prevention and treatments of problems related to methamphetamine (MA) abuse and reduce harm and incarceration associated with the consequences of MA abuse and psychiatric disorders. MA dependence coincides with a high prevalence of mental illness and is overrepresented in the criminal justice system, but the direct and indirect effects of MA addiction make it difficult to recognize potentially co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Members of the Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuropsychiatric Diagnosis will use biologically-based criteria for diagnosing and classifying the psychiatric disorders that may underlie or result from MA abuse. Patients with schizophrenia and MA-dependent individuals show cognitive deficits on psychometric tests that may have implications for interactions with the criminal justice system. Results will assist with the determination of predisposition to abuse MA and will be used to reduce the number of people who begin to use MA. The data will be used to individualize treatment, and thus reduce the disproportionate use of criminal justice drug treatment resources by the MA abusing population, and reduce the number of incarcerations associated with MA abuse and related crimes.

NCA/NCF