WORCESTER — An 18-year-old Auburn man accused of physically abusing his 11-month-old cousin has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.

Christian M. McFadden, who has a history of mental illness, according to family members, was arraigned Tuesday in Central District Court on a charge of assault and battery on a child causing injury. The charge followed an investigation by the state Department of Children and Families and Auburn police.

Police said the 11-month-old baby girl suffered a cervical spine compression and fractures, as well as two skull fractures and two arm fractures that appeared to be older and had begun to heal.

Auburn police said they received a call Friday night from Assistant District Attorney Courtney Price concerning an ongoing DCF investigation at 9 Hill St., Auburn, where Mr. McFadden and the 11-month-old girl lived with other family members.

As a result of the investigation, DCF removed four children, ranging in age from 11 months to 13 years, from the home, according to Police Chief Andrew J. Sluckis Jr.

The 11-month-old girl and another of the children were taken to a Worcester area hospital, the chief said.

Mr. McFadden was arrested and held over the weekend on $5,000 cash bail.

Ms. Price told Judge Paul L. McGill that a witness reported seeing Mr. McFadden pick up the 11-month-old and shake her violently in anger. Citing concerns for the safety of Mr. McFadden's mother, Peggie McFadden, and his grandmother, who was not named, Ms. Price asked the judge to hold Mr. McFadden temporarily without bail pending the completion of a competency evaluation that was ordered by the court at the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital.

The prosecutor said the suspect's mother told police that Mr. McFadden had been aggressive with her and her mother in the past and had to be restrained. Ms. Price also told the court that Mr. McFadden has not been taking his prescribed medications for at least a month.

The 20-day evaluation ordered by the judge was recommended by the court's designated forensic psychologist, Maria Masotta, who did a preliminary in-court evaluation of Mr. McFadden.

Mr. McFadden's cousin, Patrick Mongeau, and other family members told reporters earlier that the teen suffers from schizoaffective disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems and was hospitalized and placed in group homes and a foster home as a child.

His mother said her son has been living at home since the age of 13 and has been receiving treatment for his mental health problems.

Ms. Masotta testified that she had concerns Mr. McFadden might not be competent to stand trial based on his mental state. She recommended the further evaluation that was ordered by Judge McGill. The judge ordered that Mr. McFadden be held without bail without prejudice and continued his case to Feb. 7.

He ordered reporters not to record or take notes of Ms. Masotta's testimony or report on it in media accounts of the court proceeding, but did not give a reason for doing so. The psychologist testified in open court.

Mr. Mongeau said in an interview that DCF has been involved with his family for more than 20 years. Although Mr. McFadden has been attending a "specialized school," Mr. Mongeau said he considered the services made available to his cousin inadequate.

Describing Mr. McFadden as, "a gentle kid," Mr. Mongeau said he did not believe he caused the 11-month-old's injuries.

"We do not believe Christian did this, and if Christian is at all found at fault for any of the injuries, it was accidental," Mr. Mongeau said, adding that his cousin had "always been under supervision with the children."

Mr. McFadden's mother, who said she has had custody of the 11-month-old since June, told reporters she did not believe her son could have caused the baby's injuries, even accidentally.

"Christian's not like that. If he has a fit, he goes into his room and punches the wall or screams into his pillow," she said.

Ms. McFadden noted that some of the infant's injuries were said to be old. She said she believed all of them occurred before the child began to live with her.