Academics

Goals of Training

The major training goals of the fellowship are to develop the forensic psychiatry core competencies of the American Board of Psychiatry Neurology (ABPN) in order to ensure eventual Board-certification in forensic psychiatry. Additional training goals are to ensure expertise with unique forensic psychiatry applications in the military setting. Acquisition of knowledge will occur through didactics and through direct clinical experience. The ABPN core competencies are summarized below, but is not the entire list. A complete listing of the core competencies may be found through the ABPN webpage.

  1. Thorough knowledge of the core competencies for general (non-forensic) psychiatry to include diagnosis, assessment, and treatment
  2. Ability to conduct a thorough biopsychosocial assessment and develop an objectively-based forensic opinion in a non-treatment setting
  3. Ability to apply the relevant legal standard to assessments and to apply the data pertinent to the legal standard
  4. Knowledge of forensic delivery systems and how to access data germane to a forensic assessment
  5. Knowledge of the ethical principles associated with the practice of forensic psychiatry and research psychiatry
  6. Knowledge of legal regulation of psychiatry to include malpractice, civil commitment, confidentiality and privilege, right to treatment, right to refuse treatment, and duty to warn/protect
  7. Knowledge of civil issues in forensic psychiatry such as personal injury, workplace compensation and harassment, guardianship, testamentary capacity, and victimology
  8. Knowledge of criminal issues in forensic psychiatry to include competency to stand trial, competency to be executed, competency to waive constitutional rights, the insanity defense, death penalty, and sexual predation
  9. Familiarity with correctional psychiatry, a.k.a. delivery of psychiatric care to incarcerated populations
  10. Knowledge of the legal system, including basis of laws, the structure of the state, federal, and military court systems, and legal procedure.
  11. Knowledge of forensic issues specific to children and families, to include foster care, custody, surrogacy, termination of parental rights, emancipation, commitment, adoption, children as witnesses, and confidentiality
  12. Familiarity with issues surrounding syndrome testimony such as rape trauma syndrome and battered spouse syndrome
  13. Knowledge of special procedures in forensic psychiatry including hypnosis, amobarbital interview, polygraphy, penile plethysmography, voice stress analysis, psychological testing, laboratory testing, and neuroimaging
  14. Knowledge of risk assessment issues including violence, dangerousness, criminology, suicide, and psychological autopsy
  15. Ability to communicate clearly especially in regards to informed consent, interaction with court entities, and delivering expert testimony
  16. Ability to consult with other specialties for forensic assessments
  17. Ability to function as a consultant to other medical, legal, or law enforcement entities
  18. Ability to consult literature as needed, including use of medical and legal libraries and use of online sources such as Lexis-Nexis and Medline
  19. Demonstration of ability and skills through direct and indirect supervision

Forensic Psychology

Phone

(301) 319-5647
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