Screening for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in forensic mental health settings

ABSTRACT

There is limited evidence to inform effective screening practices for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in forensic mental health settings. This study sought to explore the potential use of four FASD screening tools in a Canadian forensic mental health program. In total, 151 patient charts were screened using the FASD Screening and Referral Tool for Youth Probation Officers and the FASD Risk Assessment Questions Asubset of current patients (n = 41) also completed screening interviews using the FASD Brief Screen Checklist and Life History Screen. Based on passive ascertainment via chart review, we found six cases of confirmed/suspected FASD (4%), evidence of PAE in 7% of the sample, and signs of maternal alcohol use during childhood in 17% of cases. Across the entire sample and four screening tools, the proportion of potentially ‘positive’ FASD screens based on exploratory evaluation ranged from 10% to 33%. Exploratory screening outcomes varied considerably between tools. Findings highlight the need for additional research to identify rates of FASD in forensic mental health settings, and to develop evidence-based screening and assessment approaches, and practice guidelines, for this setting.

KEYWORDS:

• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• prenatal alcohol exposure
• screening
• forensic psychiatry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

The Asante Centre was previously known as the Asante Centre for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects were diagnostic terms identifying individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure and neurodevelopmental deficits (see Sokol & Clarren, 1989).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the current study was provided by an Early Career Professional Grant from the American Psychology-Law Society (APA Div. 41) to KM and a Forensic Psychiatry Program Research Grant to MA. MA was also supported by the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research.