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For higher forensic psychiatric and psychology trainees seeking to develop their understanding and skills in relation to the role of an expert witness, there is certainly no replacement for first-hand training under an experienced supervisor. This experience and exposure, however, can be hard to come by and may not be available in every training post. Equally, some may wish to begin working in this capacity later in their career when such opportunities are less available. For psychiatric trainees who do not necessarily have ambitions to work as expert witnesses, the need remains for a similar skill-set when giving evidence in mental health tribunals, for example. In terms of meeting training needs, there are a multitude of courses, certifications and textbooks on offer to those new to the subject. These are of greatly varying cost. Unquestionably, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Practical Approaches to Forensic Mental Health Testimony offers a practical hands-on guide to testifying in court on mental health issues. The authors are affiliated with the Harvard Medical School department of psychiatry where Dr Thomas G. Gutheil is Professor. Dr Frank M. Dattilio is a distinguished Psychologist also affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Both describe extensive experience as expert witnesses and have published widely. In 2011, both subsequently co-authored the Handbook of Forensic Assessment: Psychological and Psychiatric Perspectives (Drogin et al., 2011).
This book is divided into...