TOWARD A SCIENTIFIC FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY

• NCJ Number: 45686
• Author(s): P E DIETZ
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING THE SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THREE GENERAL APPROACHES -- DISSEMINATING EXISTING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, INCREASING THE SCIENTIFIC VALUE OF RESEARCH, AND STIMULATING NEW RESEARCH -- ARE CONSIDERED. THE MAJOR INFORMATION GAP IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IS SAID TO STEM FROM THE PROFESSION'S ISOLATION FROM THE SCIENTIFIC METHODS AND FINDINGS OF GENERAL CRIMINOLOGY. THE NEED FOR PUBLICATIONS THAT FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC AND INCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ALL PERTINENT DISCIPLINES IS NOTED. VIOLATIONS BY FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY RESEARCHERS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF SAMPLING, CLASSIFICATION, AND COMPARISON ARE CITED. THESE SHORTCOMINGS ARE SAID TO REPRESENT OVERSIGHTS THAT CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED RATHER THAN SOPHISTICATED METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. IMPLICATIONS OF THE TREND TOWARD OUTCOME EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS BY RESEARCH FUNDING SOURCES ARE CONSIDERED. THE USE OF SYSTEMATIC CASE RECORDS IS CITED AS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE TO BE TAKEN BY ADMINISTRATORS AND CLINICIANS IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IN THE INTERESTS OF STIMULATING NEW RESEARCH. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.