This monograph is intended to be a practical guide for attorneys and psychiatrists working together in areas of mutual concern. Unfortunately, it fails to achieve its goal. Though written by an excellent teacher, Dr. Sadoff's book is unevenly organized and presented. It apparently is a collection of papers, some of which have been rewritten, and of other writings compiled into a single volume. It tends to ramble somewhat with the insertion of anecdotal cases rather than development of theses in firm fashion. This manner of presentation is not unlike Dr. Sadoff's lecture technique [1]. Dr. Sadoff seems to shift back and forth between presentations intended for psychiatrists and those intended for attorneys. Further, he shifts in presentation from first person to third person. His attention seems directed more toward criminal matters, with insufficient attention to the psychiatrist's involvement in matters of civil forensic psychiatric practice, such as personal injury litigation, workers' compensation matters, and other torts. Only passing mention is given to the important area of brain syndrome producing disability or impaired responsibility, an issue of important consideration in evaluation of a person who has sustained head injury, been exposed to toxic chemicals, or otherwise possibly brain-damaged.

Lawyers frequently encounter clients and/or cases of bizarre behavior, mental illness, substance abuse, psychopathy, sexual offenses, learning disorders, birth defects, and other behavioral and emotional issues. Often they are ill-prepared to understand the nature of the psychiatric report, how the psychiatric assessment was structured, and how to best utilize and challenge these reports in court.Forensic Psychiatry: A Lawyer's Guide provides legal professionals the tools to identify mentally ill clients and help them navigate through the psychiatric information and language in reports and testimony. Topics include why a forensic psychiatrist is necessary, applications of psychiatry to law, various psychiatric disorders, and utilizing the expert witness. - A user-friendly roadmap to psychiatry for the non-psychiatrist—covers why you need a forensic psychiatrist and the applications of psychiatry to law - Provides coverage of the mental status examination, common psychiatric diagnoses, treatable disorders versus brain damage, medical problems masquerading as mental illness, and much more - Includes a full glossary of psychiatric terms as an additional easy reference guide

First edition published in 1975.

An invaluable study guide for doctors preparing for the forensic psychiatry board exam or for those seeking recertification, this book is a concise and practical aid for mastering forensics, making key principles easy to understand and memorize. The book offers readers important advice on everything from registering for the examination to effective studying techniques. It provides a broad review of important forensic psychiatry topics as well as important mental health legal cases. It also includes more than 100 board-style questions along with answers and detailed explanations for self-assessment.

Study Guide to Forensic Psychiatryis a question-and-answer companion that allows you to evaluate your mastery of the subject matter as you progress through The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Forensic Psychiatry. The Study Guideis made up of 115 questions divided into 23 individual quizzes of 5-10 questions each that correspond to chapters in the Textbook.Questions are followed by an Answer Guide that references relevant text (including the page number) in the Textbookto allow quick access to needed information. Each answer is accompanied by a discussion that not only addresses the correct response but also explains why other responses are not correct. The Study Guide'scompanion, The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Forensic Psychiatryis the first reference designed and written for both the general clinician and the experienced forensic psychiatrist. Twenty-eight recognized experts introduce the forensic subjects that commonly arise in clinical practice. Each chapter is organized around case examples and includes a review of key concepts, practical guidelines, and references for further reading. This practical textbook makes this interesting specialty accessible to trainees and seasoned practitioners.

It contains everything one needs to know to establish a forensic psychiatric practice: definitions; discussions of duties and ethics; how to advertise and contract for services, review records, examine the client, write reports, and conduct oneself during depositions and trials.

General clinicians conduct most forensic psychiatric examinations and provide most psychiatric testimony. Yet these clinicians often receive little or no training in forensic psychiatry, leaving them ill prepared to meet the inevitable ethical and legal challenges that arise. Both timely and informative, this textbook is the first reference designed and written for both the general clinician and the experienced forensic psychiatrist. Here, 28 recognized experts introduce the forensic subjects that commonly arise in clinical practice. Unique in the literature, this outstanding collection covers • Introductory subjects—Organized psychiatry and forensic practice; the legal system and the distinctions between therapeutic and forensic roles; business aspects of starting a forensic practice; the role of the expert witness; the differences between the ethics of forensic and clinical psychiatry; the use of DSM in the courtroom; and issues that arise in working with attorneys• Civil litigation—The standard of care and psychiatric malpractice; civil competency; issues in conducting evaluations for personal injury litigation; personal injury claims of psychiatric harm; and disability determination and other employment-related psychiatric evaluations• Criminal justice—Competency to stand trial and insanity evaluations; the use of actuarial and clinical assessments in the evaluation of sexual offenders; psychiatry in correctional settings; and the relationship between psychiatry and law enforcement, including mental health training, crisis negotiation, and fitness for duty evaluations• Special topics—Assessment of malingering; evaluations of children and adolescents; violence risk assessments; the use of prediction instruments to determine "dangerousness"; and the evolving standard of expert psychological testimony Each chapter is organized around case examples and includes a review of key concepts, practical guidelines, and references for further reading. A study guide is also available for use in teaching, in studying, and in preparing for the forensic board examination. This practical textbook makes this interesting specialty accessible to trainees and seasoned practitioners. With its detailed glossary of legal terms, subject index, and index of legal cases, it will be a welcome addition to all psychiatric residency and forensic fellowship programs.