Ptsd and Forensic Psychology ― Applications to Civil and Criminal Law

In World War I, they spoke of shell shock. By World War II, the term was battle fatigue. Modern understanding of trauma psychology has evolved to give the concept a non-military name: posttraumatic stress disorder. As such, it has been at the heart of civil and criminal cases from workers' compensation to murder.

PTSD and Forensic Psychology brings its topic into real-world focus by examining posttraumatic stress as a clinical entity and taking readers through the evaluation process for court cases involving the PTSD syndrome. This timely reference differentiates between PTSD and disorders that may be mistaken for it, and demonstrates its legal application in seeking civil damages and mounting a criminal defense. An evidence-based framework for conducting a trial-worthy evaluation and guidelines for establishing strong cases and refuting dubious ones further illustrate the protocols and challenges surrounding the status of PTSD in legal settings. For maximum usefulness, the book offers courtroom advice for expert witnesses as well as "practice points" at the end of each chapter. Featured topics include:

• History of the PTSD concept and its relation to the law.
• PTSD as syndrome: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment.
• PTSD and other traumatic disability syndromes.
• PTSD in the civil litigation and criminal justice systems.
• PTSD as an insanity defense and in claims of diminished capacity.
• PTSD cases: evaluation, interpretation, testimony.

This thorough yet concise analysis makes PTSD and Forensic Psychology the ideal training tool for beginning mental health expert witnesses, as well as a concise practical review and reference source for seasoned forensic psychologists. It will also serve as a useful practice and teaching guide for attorneys, medical rehabilitation professionals, military personnel, psychotherapists, researchers, and educators in the fields of clinical and forensic psychology, criminology, traumatic stress studies, and mental health law.

Laurence Miller, PhD is in independent practice in Boca Raton, Florida, specializing in clinical psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychology, police psychology, and business psychology. Dr. Miller is a consulting psychologist for the West Palm Beach Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Dr. Miller also consults with local, regional, and national law enforcement agencies on cases involving law enforcement stress, officer misconduct, fitness for duty, work-related disability, psychological services for police officers and their families, and law enforcement management and administration. Dr. Miller is an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University and at Palm Beach State College, where he teaches courses in abnormal psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychology, criminal psychology, police psychology, business psychology, and clinical psychology. He is also an adjunct instructor at the Criminal Justice Institute-Police Academy of Palm Beach County, where he has taught courses in law enforcement stress management and law enforcement crisis intervention. In addition, Dr. Miller conducts training seminars and continuing education programs regionally and nationally on topics pertaining to the brain, health, law, psychology, and organizational management. Dr. Miller is a court-appointed forensic psychological examiner for the Palm Beach County Criminal, Juvenile, and Family Court, and he serves as an independent expert witness in civil and criminal cases involving brain injury, traumatic stress syndromes, psychological disorders, civil and criminal competencies, criminal culpability, workplace violence and harassment, workplace stress, psychological disability, fitness for duty, workers compensation, and personal injury.