Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys

Paraphilic Disorders and SVP Evaluations: A Forensic Psychiatrist’s View

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Brian Holoyda, Chief Psychiatrist for Contra Costa County’s detention facilities and an internationally recognized expert on paraphilic disorders and sexual violence risk assessment. The conversation guides attorneys through the complexities of forensic assessments in sexually violent predator (SVP) cases, paraphilic disorder diagnosis, and the pivotal role of standardized risk assessment tools.

Episode Notes

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and paraphilic disorders. Listener discretion is advised. The content may be distressing or triggering for some listeners.

In this episode, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Brian Holoyda, Chief Psychiatrist for Contra Costa County’s detention facilities and an internationally recognized expert on paraphilic disorders and sexual violence risk assessment. The conversation guides attorneys through the complexities of forensic assessments in sexually violent predator (SVP) cases, paraphilic disorder diagnosis, and the pivotal role of standardized risk assessment tools.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The distinction between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders in psychiatric diagnosis
• Critical elements and instruments in sexual violence risk assessment: Static-99R, SVR-20, Stable-2007
• How legal decisions hinge on psychiatric diagnoses and structured risk evaluations
• Comparisons between U.S. and international forensic psychiatric practice
• Attorney strategies for challenging or supporting risk assessment findings in court