Title

Aggression toward forensic evaluators: a statewide survey

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry

Publication Date

2006-07-18

Document Type

Article

Subjects

*Aggression; Expert Testimony; Forensic Psychiatry; Humans; Massachusetts; Questionnaires

Disciplines

Psychiatry

Abstract

There is an increasing body of literature regarding violence toward mental health professionals in clinical settings, but little is known about the frequency of assaults on forensic evaluators. Forensic evaluators play a very different role in the evaluee's life than do treating clinicians. This study examined the incidence of aggressive behavior specifically directed toward forensic clinicians. Psychologists and psychiatrists (n = 190) in Massachusetts were surveyed regarding their experience of verbal threats, harassment/intimidation (H/I), and physical assault. Respondents were asked about the most distressing incident (MDI) in their forensic practices. This study found no more risk of aggressive behavior in the forensic context than the nonforensic context and concluded that forensic clinicians' concerns about their safety may be somewhat misplaced. In the 76 reported MDIs, physical injury was minimal, yet emotional distress was pronounced. Training programs and work settings should validate the legitimacy of these reactions, and help clinicians to cope with their emotional reactions.

Source

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2006;34(2):231-9.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

16844804

Link to Full Text

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