OAR 309-033-0960: Mental Health Examiner’s Report to the Court

(1) Examiner assessment of evidence. The examiner shall provide in a report to the court the examiner’s opinion whether the evidence supports or contradicts: (a) The allegation that the person has a mental disorder; (b) The allegation that the person is a danger to self or others, or is unable to provide for basic personal needs and is not receiving such care as is necessary for health and safety; and (c) That the person would cooperate with and benefit from voluntary treatment. (2) Mental status examination and psychosocial history. In addition to considering other evidence presented at the hearing, the examiner shall conduct a mental status examination and a psychosocial history to determine whether the person alleged to have mental illness has a mental disorder: (a) Mental status examination. A mental status examination shall include review of the presence of indicators of mental disorder in the following areas: (A) Appearance. Features of the person’s dress, physical condition which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (B) Behavior. Features of the person’s behavior, movement or rate of speech which may indicate the presence of mental disorder. (C) Thought content. Features of the content of the person’s speech such as delusions and hallucinations which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (D) Thought process. Features of the person’s expressed thoughts which may indicate that the person is unable to think in a clear logical fashion and which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (E) Insight. Features of the person’s understanding of his/her current mental state which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (F) Judgment. Features of the person’s ability to make objectively safe decisions about social situations and dangerous situations which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (G) Cognitive testing. Features of the person’s ability to concentrate, ability to remember recent and historical events, ability to use abstract thinking, and ability to use or remember generally known information which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (H) Emotions. Features of the person’s emotions, such as being inappropriate to the situation, which may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (b) Psychosocial history. A psychosocial history shall consider the presence of indicators of mental disorder in the following areas: (A) Psychiatric history: (i) History of psychiatric or mental health treatment; (ii) History of commitments for mental disorder including verification from the Division if available; and (iii) Current participation in mental health treatment. (B) Family history: (i) Members of the person’s family who have a history of psychiatric or mental health treatment; (ii) Members of the person’s family who have a history of commitment for mental disorder; or (iii) Reports of family members who appear to have had an untreated mental disorder. (C) Substance use history: (i) History of alcohol or drug misuse; (ii) Behaviors the person may have displayed during the course of the investigation which are substantially similar to behaviors that indicate the presence of a mental disorder that may be attributable to the use of alcohol or drugs; or (iii) If the person appears to have a mental disorder, the effect of the person’s current use of alcohol or drugs on behaviors that may indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (D) History of a loss of function: (E) Social function. (F) Personal finances: (i) Availability of financial resources to provide for basic needs such as food and shelter; (ii) Use of financial resources to meet needs for food and shelter; and (iii) Other features of the manner in which the person uses money which would indicate the presence of a mental disorder. (G) Medical issues: (i) Medical conditions that may produce behaviors which are substantially similar to behaviors that indicate the presence of a mental disorder; or (ii) Medical conditions which contribute to the seriousness of a mental disorder which appears to be present. (3) Assessment of dangerousness and ability to provide basic needs. In addition to considering other evidence presented at the hearing, the examiner shall conduct an assessment of the danger the person represents to self or others and an assessment of the person’s ability to provide for basic personal needs: (a) An assessment of dangerousness to self shall consider the following areas: (A) History of thoughts, plans or attempts at suicide; (B) Presence of thoughts, plans or attempts at suicide; (C) Means and ability to carry out the plans for suicide; (D) The potential lethality of the plan; (E) The probable imminence of an attempt at suicide; and (F) Available support systems which may prevent the person from acting on the plan. (b) An assessment of dangerousness to others shall consider the following areas: (A) History of thoughts, plans, attempts or acts of assaultiveness or violence; (B) Presence of thoughts, plans, attempts or acts of assaultiveness or violence; (C) Means and ability to carry out the plans for assaultiveness or violence; (D) The potential lethality of the plan; (E) The probable imminence of an attempt at assault or violence; and (F) Available support systems which may prevent the person from attempting an assault or an act of violence. (c) An assessment of the person’s ability to provide for basic personal needs shall consider the following areas: (A) History of the person’s ability to provide for basic personal needs; (B) The person’s current use of resources to obtain food, shelter, and health care necessary for health and safety; (C) Behaviors which result in exposure to danger to self or other; (D) Available support systems which may provide the person care necessary for health and safety; and (E) If the person appears to lack capacity to care for self, the availability of a guardian who can assure the provision of such care.