NCJ Number
87968
Journal
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1983) Pages: 76-85
Date Published
1983
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The conventional wisdom in mental health law holds that psychiatrists perform forensic evaluations that are superior to those conducted by non-medically trained clinicians.
Abstract
Both legal opinions and the professional literature have alluded to psychologists as 'second rate' experts on forensic issues. Two studies are reported in which the forensic reports of psychiatrists are compared with those of non-medical examiners (psychologists and/or social workers) on a variety of measures of thoroughness and quality. The findings strongly contradict the conventional wisdom and have significant implications for the increased use of non-medical clinicians with appropriate training and experience in forensic psychology. (Publisher abstract)