Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic Psychiatry is a sub-specialty of psychiatry and is related to criminology. It encompasses the interface between law and psychiatry. A forensic psychiatrist provides services – such as determination of competency to stand trial – to a court of law to facilitate the adjudicative process and provide treatment like medications and psychotherapy to criminals.

History[edit | edit source]

The history of forensic psychiatry is as old as that of jurisprudence and psychiatry combined. The term 'forensic' comes from the Latin word 'forensis', meaning 'of the forum' where the law courts of ancient Rome were held. Forensic psychiatry was born in the 19th century, with the works of James Prichard and Isaac Ray, who laid the foundation for this science.

Role of Forensic Psychiatrists[edit | edit source]

Forensic psychiatrists are involved in a variety of specific areas, including:

Competency evaluations
Criminal responsibility
Personal injury claims and lawsuits
Psychiatric malpractice and professional ethics
Workman's compensation
Child custody issues

Competency Evaluations[edit | edit source]

In the legal system, the most important task of the forensic psychiatrist is the assessment of competency. This refers to the assessment of the defendant's competency to stand trial, to be executed, to refuse treatment, and to make a will.

Criminal Responsibility[edit | edit source]

The assessment of criminal responsibility refers to the assessment of the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime. This is often referred to as the insanity defense, although the legal standards for this vary widely.

Personal Injury Claims and Lawsuits[edit | edit source]

Forensic psychiatrists are often involved in personal injury claims and lawsuits, particularly in relation to psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Psychiatric Malpractice and Professional Ethics[edit | edit source]

Forensic psychiatrists may be involved in cases of psychiatric malpractice, where the question is whether a practitioner has met the standard of care in the treatment of a patient.

Workman's Compensation[edit | edit source]

Forensic psychiatrists may be involved in workman's compensation cases, where the issue is whether a specific injury (physical or emotional) is work-related or not.