ELECT EPSYR - Forensic Psychiatry

OBJECTIVES AND/OR GOALS

•   To become familiar with the intellectual and clinical work encompassed by the field of forensic psychiatry

(including issues of trial competency and criminal responsibility)

•   To appreciate the complexity and range of psychiatric illness that can be present in a correctional setting

•   To study the social, cultural, and environmental influences on aggressive behavior and factors active in the criminalization of the chronically mentally ill

•   To begin to develop the capacity to recognize and cope with the potential of malingering in a patient in an effective and therapeutic manner

•   To recognize and deal with personal reactions to difficult patients while maintaining professionalism

•   To insure that the future practitioner can effectively deliver the appropriate standard of care to incarcerated patients

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF SENIOR STUDENTS

•   Perform initial psychiatric write ups and follow up SOAP notes for forensic patients

•   Organize observations into a formal descriptive mental status exam

•   Make a differential diagnosis from relevant data from the patient and support the most likely diagnosis

•   Present examination findings to the director in daily supervision

•   Discuss appropriate management of a patient in a mental health system with limited resources

•   Shadow the director during civil and criminal forensic evaluations and potential expert testimony.

No  more  than  3  days  during  the  4  week  rotation  can  be  taken  for  interviews  unless  approved  in  advanced  by director. ANY absences in excess of 3 days will be required to be made up before the evaluation will be completed and turned in.

RESOURCES FOR LEARNING

Kaplan & Sadock’s Textbook of Psychiatry

American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law website (www.AAPL.org)

 Selected readings assigned by the director.

 

All

Pass/Fail