EDUCATING THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST

• NCJ Number: 62436
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 880-884
• Author(s): P E DIETZ
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE 31ST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, ATLANTA, GA, FEBRUARY 14, 1979

Annotation

TRAINING IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY SHOULD COVER MORE THAN PRETRIAL EVALUATIONS; IT SHOULD INCLUDE RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND GAINING A BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH ANY PHYSICIAN INTERESTED IN THE MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS OF PSYCHIATRY MAY DECLARE HIMSELF A FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST, REPUTABLE PSYCHIATRISTS FIRST RECEIVE GENERAL PSYCHIATRIC TRAINING. FORMAL FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY TRAINING PROGRAMS DID NOT EXIST IN THE U.S. BEFORE 1960, AND MOST CURRENT PROGRAMS FOCUS ON PRETRIAL EVALUATIONS OF DEFENDANTS OR OFFER TREATMENT TO OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, COMPREHENSIVE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY TRAINING SHOULD INCLUDE COMMITMENT PROCEDURES, DOMESTIC RELATIONS PROBLEMS, DISABILITY PROCEDURES, THE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION AFFECTING PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE, AND OTHER ITEMS. NEVERTHELESS, FEW PROGRAMS ATTEMPT TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, SINCE FUNDING IS USUALLY AVAILABLE FOR CRIMINAL-ORIENTED TRAINING. AN IDEAL FELLOWSHIP IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY WOULD INVOLVE 1 OR 2 YEARS' WORK IN EVALUATING CASES, TAKING LAW SCHOOL AND CRIMINOLOGY COURSES, WRITING TESTIMONY, CONDUCTING RESEARCH, AND PUBLISHING. THE LACK OF PSYCHIATRISTS TO FILL POSITIONS IN PRISONS AND THE INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRISTS IN COURT UNDERLINE THE NEED FOR UPGRADING EXISTING TRAINING AND ACHIEVING BETTER FUNDING. REFERENCES AND A TABLE ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)