Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys

Evaluating Psychiatric Symptoms in Complex Cases: Dr. Ashley VanDercar on Assessing for Malingering and Violence Risk

Episode Summary

In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Ashley VanDercar, fpamed forensic psychiatry associate, to explore how experts assess two of the most complex and high-stakes issues in forensic psychiatry: malingering and violence risk. Together, they explore the intricacies of malingering assessments and the importance of comprehensive record reviews. Dr. VanDercar then provides nuanced insights into violence risk factors, particularly in the context of severe mental illness. The episode concludes with practical advice for attorneys on effective collaboration with forensic psychiatric experts, emphasizing the synergy between legal context and psychiatric evaluation.

Episode Notes

In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Ashley VanDercar, fpamed forensic psychiatry associate, to explore how experts assess two of the most complex and high-stakes issues in forensic psychiatry: malingering and violence risk. Together, they explore the intricacies of malingering assessments and the importance of comprehensive record reviews. Dr. VanDercar then provides nuanced insights into violence risk factors, particularly in the context of severe mental illness. The episode concludes with practical advice for attorneys on effective collaboration with forensic psychiatric experts, emphasizing the synergy between legal context and psychiatric evaluation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Potential presentations of malingering (pure, partial, or false imputation)
• How experts seek to differentiate genuine symptoms from feigned or exaggerated ones
• The notion of violence risk factors, and how experts assess violence risk
• Why attorney–expert collaboration strengthens the precision of forensic opinions