Principles of Forensic Mental Health Assessment

by Heilbrun, Kirk

• ISBN13: 9780306465383
• ISBN10: 0306465388
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780306473821
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-10-01
• Publisher: Plenum Pub Corp

Summary

Unlike most of the literature in forensic mental health assessment, which is organized around specific legal issues, this book posits the existence of broad principles of forensic assessment that are applicable across different legal issues and are derived from and supported by sources of authority in ethics, law, science, and professional practice. The author describes and analyzes twenty-nine broad principles of forensic mental health assessment within this framework.

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION
Developing Principles of Forensic Mental Health Assessment
Forensic versus Therapeutic Assessment	9	(5)
A Structure for Organizing Principles of FMHA	14	(2)
Deriving and Analyzing Principles	16	(5)
II. PREPARATION
First Contacts
Identify Relevant Forensic Issues	21	(5)
Accept Referrals Only within Area of Expertise	26	(10)
Decline Referral When Evaluator Impartiality is Unlikely	36	(10)
Clarify Role with Attorney	46	(5)
Clarify Financial Arrangements	51	(7)
Obtain Appropriate Authorization	58	(7)
Defining the Evaluator's Role
Avoid Dual-Role Relationships of Therapist and Forensic Evaluator	65	(8)
Determine the Role to Be Played within Forensic Assessment if the Referral Is Accepted	73	(11)
Using a Model
Select and Employ a Model to Guide Data Gathering, Interpretation, and Communication	84	(15)
III. DATA COLLECTION
Selection
Use Multiple Sources of Information for Each Area Being Assessed	99	(8)
Use Relevance and Reliability (Validity) as Guides for Seeking Information and Selecting Data Sources	107	(8)
Obtain Relevant Historical Information	115	(6)
Assess Relevant Clinical Characteristics in Reliable and Valid Ways	121	(8)
Assess Legally Relevant Behavior	129	(7)
Administration
Ensure that Conditions for Evaluation Are Quiet, Private, and Distraction-Free	136	(5)
Provide Appropriate Notification of Purpose and/or Obtain Appropriate Authorization Before Beginning	141	(12)
Determine Whether the Individual Understands the Purpose of the Evaluation and Associated Limits on Confidentiality	153	(14)
IV. DATA INTERPRETATION
Assessing Response Style
Use Third-Party Information in Assessing Response Style	167	(9)
Use Testing When Indicated in Assessing Response Style	176	(14)
Incorporating Scientific Reasoning and Data
Use Case-Specific (Idiographic) Evidence in Assessing Causal Connection between Clinical Condition and Functional Abilities	190	(6)
Use Nomothetic Evidence in Assessing Causal Connection between Clinical Condition and Functional Abilities	196	(10)
Use Scientific Reasoning in Assessing Causal Connection between Clinical Condition and Functional Abilities	206	(7)
Making Assertions and Clarifying Limits
Do Not Answer the Ultimate Legal Question Directly	213	(13)
Describe Findings and Limits so that They Need Change Little under Cross Examination	226	(15)
V. COMMUNICATION
Communicating Clearly
Attribute Information to Sources	241	(5)
Use Plain Language; Avoid Technical Jargon	246	(3)
Write Report in Sections, According to Model and Procedures	249	(8)
Testifying Effectively
Base Testimony on Results of Properly Performed FMHA	257	(10)
Testify in an Effective Manner	267	(19)
VI. APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Implications for Research, Training, Practice, and Policy
Implications for Research	286	(13)
Implications for Training	299	(2)
Implications for Practice	301	(4)
Implications for Policy	305	(4)
References	309	(23)
Cases	332	(3)
Index	335