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CNN Correspondent Ed Lavandera is covering the competency hearing for Yates

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Jury selection will begin Tuesday for a hearing to determine whether Andrea Yates, suspected in the drowning deaths of her five children, is competent to stand trial. CNN Correspondent Ed Lavandera will cover the hearing.

Q: Tell us about the upcoming hearing. What can we expect? Who will testify?

LAVANDERA: This is really going to be a battle of medical experts. It's called a competency hearing and basically it's to determine whether Andrea Yates is competent to stand trial on the capital murder charges for the deaths of three of her children. The people we anticipate testifying are a lot of medical experts, especially people who treated her over the last couple of years, including Dr. Mohammed Saeed, who was the last psychiatrist to treat her at a Houston psychiatric hospital.

Q: Her attorney has filed medical records with the court. What do those show?

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LAVANDERA: The court records outline Andrea Yates' struggles with depression and psychosis, dating back to the summer of 1999. We learned about several suicide attempts and her struggles to stay on medications that were prescribed. One of those is Haldol, a powerful antipsychotic medication often prescribed in cases where the patient is hearing voices or seeing visions.

Q: Do the documents shed any light on Yates' home life, her relationship with her husband?

LAVANDERA: To a certain extent. They show that Russell Yates, her husband, was highly involved in speaking with the doctors about his wife's condition. There's no clear answer as to what kind of influence he had on her. She is often quoted in the records as saying her husband and family are supportive. But other times it appears that he's struggling with the doctors to get his wife released from the hospital before they want to release her.

Q: How is Yates? She was described as being in a catatonic state shortly after her arrest. Does she realize what she's been charged with and how has she reacted?

LAVANDERA: On June 20, when she was arrested, her attorneys said they were unable to communicate with her. She was taken to the psychiatric unit of the Harris County Jail under a suicide watch. Now, her family says she's doing much better. We've spoken with her mother in recent weeks and she says her daughter has returned to the happier Andrea they knew in the past.

Q: How long will this phase last?

LAVANDERA: Jury selection, which starts Tuesday, is supposed to take a day. We've been told that testimony will take about four days.

Q: What will the procedure determine?

LAVANDERA: If she is found competent, then she will return to Harris County Jail and prepare for the criminal trial. She has already pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. If she's found incompetent, she'll be sent to a state mental hospital, where she'll undergo treatment until such time as she's deemed able to stand trial.