Emotionally charged issues abound in matrimonial practice, especially in custody disputes. Expert testimony can have a dramatic impact on the outcome of a case, and when matters are highly sensitive or sensational the seeming objectivity of an expert can be dispositive. To effectively reinforce or question that testimony, certain specialized knowledge is essential. Scientifically accepted standards and theories are constantly evolving. Keeping up with the data had been a challenge, but one integrated resource has made it simple. Aspen Publishers’ Psychological Experts in Divorce Actions pulls all the research together into the definitive guide to understanding the role of psychological evaluations in divorce and custody actions. Focused on providing the best approach to protecting your client’s interests, this work explains all the leading testing instruments,what conclusions may be drawn and how to challenge or support those conclusions. In addition to offering effective examination and cross-examination strategies, it assists you in handling the gamut of psychological factors that affect clients in divorce and custody cases. Authors Marc J. Ackerman, Ph.D ., and Andrew W. Kane, Ph.D ., are licensed psychologists who have been involved in hundreds of custody cases. Drawing on their extensive experience—testing parties to a divorce and treating psychological patients in the clinic—and as psychological experts in the courtroom, they identify the most important psychological evaluation research used in divorce and custody decision-making and distill the information into clear terms lawyers can readily apply.They also examine vital issues including: Ethics —confidentiality, privilege, duty to warn or protect (Tarasoff), sharing raw data, test integrity Sexual abuse —bona fide or fabricated allegations, psychological effects of sexual abuse, profiles of abuser and abused Testing —personality tests (including MMPI-2, And The new MMPI-2-RF, Rorschach,Millon,TAT); intelligence tests (Wechsler scales,Kaufman scales, Stanford Binet); custody tests (ASPECT, PCRI, PASS, BPS); and many more How divorce affects families —custody, placement, age and gender differences, grandparents, sexual preference, psychological problems

Illuminating key procedural matters, legal precedents, and ongoing debates in the field, this book is essential reading for mental health and legal professionals and students."--Jacket.

Catalog of reports, decisions and opinions, testimonies and speeches.

Since c. 1960 the interplay of psychiatry and law has emerged from an elective seminar to a topic of national prominence. In its breadth and coverage, Ralph Slovenko's Psychiatry and Law/Law in Psychiatry provides a critical exposition of the many practices and basic premises of law and psychiatry. It is a complete text for psychiatry residents or law students and an invaluable reference for practicing professionals in each field. New approaches for practitioners are provided as well as material to assist them in preparing and documenting their cases. Psychiatry and Law/Law in Psychiatry is rooted in Dr. Slovenko's previously published work, Psychiatry and Law (Little & Brown 1973), which received the American Psychiatric Association's prestigious Manfred Guttmacher award.