Psychological Injuries Forensic Assessment, Treatment, and Law

Although the diverse range of problems that people claim to suffer from are serious and often genuine, thelargely subjective and unobservable nature of psychological conditions has led to much skepticism about the authenticity of psychological injury claims. Improved assessment methods and research on the economic and physical health consequences of psychological distress has resulted in exponentialgrowth in the litigation related to such conditions. Integrating the history of psychological injuries both from legal and mental health perspectives, this book offers compelling discussions of relevant statutory and case law. Focussing especially on posttraumatic stress disorder, it addresses the current status and empirical limitations of forensic assessments of psychological injuries and alerts readers to common vulnerabilities in expert evidence from mental health professionals. In addition, it also uses the latest empirical research toprovide the best forensic methods for assessing both clinical conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder and for alternative explanations such as malingering. The authors offer state-of-the-art information on early intervention, psychological therapies, and pharmaceutical treatments forposttraumatic stress disorder and stimulating suggestions for further research into this complex phenomenon. A comprehensive guide to psychological injuries, this book will be an indispensable resource for all mental health practitioners, researchers, and legal professionals who work with psychological injuries."This is a great book that fills a much needed void in the psychological and legal literature. A timely and scholarly piece, it is a well written work that provides critical information for anyone interested in the area."---- Edward J. Hickling, Psy.D., Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, SUNY-Albany Capital Psychological Associates, Albany, NY "Dr. William J. Koch and colleagues have successfully produced a superbly comprehensive yet practical book about psychological trauma, its legal implications, and clinical practice ramifications. This outstanding work should be required reading for any practitioner involved in forensically oriented work, or for those who treat posttraumatic stress disorder and similar conditions. In an increasingly litigious world, practitioners need more and better resources to inform, guide, and justify their activities; Psychological Injuries: Forensic Assessment, Treatment, and Law will probide clear, concise, and thorough direction to anyone involved in this kind of work. Kudos to Koch and colleagues for providing both a timely and unique resource, which will no doubt become the new standard for excellence by integrating clinical research, legal-medical issues, and practice."----Johan Rosqvist, Psy.D., Solutions for Anxiety Clinic, Pacific University "Essential reading for any lawyer handling cases involving psychological injuries. This book not only outlines the development and explains the research underpining the medical issues, but tracks the legal developments and challenges facing counsel. I came away better armed to advise clients, prepare expert witnesses and present my case."----Stephen McPhee, Trial Lawyer, British Columbia, Canada "A landmark volume that provides a thoughtful and lucid discussion of issues related to psychological injury. Topics covered range from historical origins to the political and scientific issues that shape our current views of psychological disorders in a medical-legal context. The authors provide a number of savy clinical insights that reflect a wealth of clinical and legal experience. The comprehensive coverage of the research literature alone is worth the price of the volume. This well written and important book should be required reading for all legal and health care professionals."----Lynn Alden, Associate Dean & Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada"A landmark volume that provides a thoughtful and lucid discussion ofissues related to psychological injury. Topics covered range from historicalorigins to the political and scientific issues that shape our current views ofpsychological disorders in a medical-legal context. The authors provide a numberof savy clinical insights that reflect a wealth of clinical and legalexperience. The comprehensive coverage of the research literature alone is worththe price of the volume. This well written and important book should be requiredreading for all legal and health care professionals."----Lynn Alden, AssociateDean and Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Colombia,Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada"Dr. William J. Koch and colleagues have successfully produced a superblycomprehensive yet practical book about psychological trauma, its legalimplications, and clinical practice ramifications. This outstanding work shouldbe required reading for any practitioner involved in forensically oriented work,or for those who treat posttraumatic stress disorder and similar conditions. Inan increasingly litigious world, practitioners need more and better resources toinform, guide, and justify their activities; Psychological Injuries: ForensicAssessment, Treatment, and Law will probide clear, concise, and thoroughdirection to anyone involved in this kind of work. Kudos to Koch and colleaguesfor providing both a timely and unique resource, which will no doubt become thenew standard for excellence by integrating clinical research, legal-medicalissues, and practice."----Johan Rosqvist, Psy.D., Solutions for Anxiety Clinic,Pacific University"Essential reading for any lawyer handling cases involving psychologicalinjuries. This book not only outlines the development and explains the researchunderpining the medical issues, but tracks the legal developments and challengesfacing counsel. I came away better armed to advise clients, prepare expertwitnesses and present my case."----Stephen McPhee, Trial Lawyer, BritishColumbia, Canada"This is a great book that fills a much needed void in the psychologicaland legal literature. A timely and scholarly piece, it is a well written workthat provides critical information for anyone interested in the area."----Edward J. Hickling, Psy.D., Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, SUNY-AlbanyCapital Psychological Associates, Albany, NY"[the authors] present an in-depth review of the interaction effects of social economic factors, gender, culture, and the type of stressors--nowhere so carefully crafted and thoroughly researched as in this book...Whether you are a clinician who assesses and treats traumatized clients or a forensic psychologist who evaluates clients for legal proceedings, this book will improve your knowledge and understanding...My clinical awareness and practice has been sharpened by its reading."--PsycCRITIQUES "This is a great book that fills a much needed void in the psychological and legal literature. A timely and scholarly piece, it is a well written work that provides critical information for anyone interested in the area."---- Edward J. Hickling, Psy.D., Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, SUNY-Albany Capital Psychological Associates, Albany, NY "Dr. William J. Koch and colleagues have successfully produced a superbly comprehensive yet practical book about psychological trauma, its legal implications, and clinical practice ramifications. This outstanding work should be required reading for any practitioner involved in forensically oriented work, or for those who treat posttraumatic stress disorder and similar conditions. In an increasingly litigious world, practitioners need more and better resources to inform, guide, and justify their activities; Psychological Injuries: Forensic Assessment, Treatment, and Law will probide clear, concise, and thorough direction to anyone involved in this kind of work. Kudos to Koch and colleagues for providing both a timely and unique resource, which will no doubt become the new standard forexcellence by integrating clinical research, legal-medical issues, and practice."----Johan Rosqvist, Psy.D., Solutions for Anxiety Clinic, Pacific University "Essential reading for any lawyer handling cases involving psychological injuries. This book not only outlines the development and explains the research underpining the medical issues, but tracks the legal developments and challenges facing counsel. I came away better armed to advise clients, prepare expert witnesses and present my case."----Stephen McPhee, Trial Lawyer, British Columbia, Canada "A landmark volume that provides a thoughtful and lucid discussion of issues related to psychological injury. Topics covered range from historical origins to the political and scientific issues that shape our current views of psychological disorders in a medical-legal context. The authors provide a number of savy clinical insights that reflect a wealth of clinical and legal experience. The comprehensive coverage of the research literature alone is worth the price of the volume. This well written and important book should be required reading for all legal and health care professionals."----Lynn Alden, Associate Dean & Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada1. Definition and History of the Concept of Psychological Injury 2. Legal Contexts and Law Related to Psychological Injuries 3. General Assessment Issues with Psychological Injuries 4. Grant L. Iverson and Rael T. Lange: 4. Detecting Exaggeration and Malingering in Psychological Injury Claims 5. Common Vulnerabilities in Psychological Evidence 6. Gender, Trauma and Distress 7. Ethnocultural Minorities 8. Prevention and Rehabilitation of Psychological Injuries 9. Psychological Injury Cases 10. Current Status and Future Trends IndexThis volume describes the law related to, forensic assessment of, and treatment for psychological injuries, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder. Special attention is given to the empirical limits of forensic assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder, vulnerabilities in expert evidence, and empirically supported treatments.