Abstract: Objective To explore social function in assessment of self-defense capability of patients with mental retardation against sexual assault.Methods The data of 125 sexual assault victims with mental retardation were collected according to our forensic psychiatry assessment criteria.Mental retardation was rated with WAIS-RC,GAF,and the rating scale of the intelligence disability.Results There were significant differences in occupation,marital status,education,knowledge about sex,and history of pregnancy among the patients with different levels of self-defense capability.The kappa values of the rating scale score of the intelligence disability,GAF,and IQ were 0.710,0.661,and 0.494;the kappa values of that and self-defense capability were 0.538,0.472,and 0.316 respectively.Conclusion The level of social function is very important in the assessment of self-defense capability in patients with mental retardation.

Key words: social function, mental retardation, self-defense capability, forensic psychiatry