Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation

Just what is a Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation and how it should (and in our case will) be used in a custody battle.

Here is what a Forensic Psych Evaluation is:
Forensic evaluations generally contain the following components:


Psychiatric mental status examination.
Psychological assessment.
Review of pertinent medical records, discovery and evidentiary deposition transcripts, school records, work product

Mental Status Examination

The mental status examination is a face-to-face examination between the psychiatric physician and the patient. The purpose of the examination is to determine the function of elements of mental and brain activity. For instance, thought is examined to determine if the person can logically go from point "A" to point "B" in his thinking. Thought is also examined to determine the presence or absence of circumstantial thinking, loose associations, or other determinants of abnormal mental function. Content of the thinking is examined for delusional thoughts, morbid ideas, perceptual distortions, suicidal/homicidal ideas, or other signs of mental pathology. Language is examined for expressive and receptive function, repetition errors, and to determine if the person can properly take mental ideas and convert them to motor acts.

Orientation to person, place, and time is determined. Gross memory ability is determined. Evaluation of the mental stream of activity, mood, range of affect, and thought and motor speeds is completed. The mental status examination is a qualitative examination, and quantified elements of the mental examination are determined by standardized mental assessment.

Neurological Examination

The neurological examination is a physical examination performed by the physician. The purpose of the examination is to measure gross neurological functioning of input and output nerves of the brain, as well as cerebral-hemisphere functioning.

Psychological Assessment

The psychological assessment evaluates personality and psychopathology using standard tests. Typically, this assessment provides information concerning the following:


Psychopathology
Functional intellectual capacity.
Current and preinjury academic ability estimates.
Forensic distortion analysis.

Neuropsychological Examination

The neuropsychological evaluation measures brain functions in a systemic and standardized fashion. At Lexington Forensic Neuropsychiatry, we generally measure the following in suspected adult brain injury:


Attention and concentration.
Language and language-related skills.
Spatial and constructional skills.
Sensory perceptual skills.
Memory.
Motor and visual-motor skills.
Executive functions.
Test intelligence.
Psychopathology.
Measures providing estimate of preinjury function.
Forensic distortion analysis.

Custody evaluations are not confidential because the written report is distributed to the attorneys and the judge and may eventually become evidence in a public trial. Both children and parents need to be aware how this kind of evaluation differs from an ordinary meeting with a psychiatrist

Parents' finances. Although the court may separate the financial details of the divorce settlement from the custody case, the clinician's acquire general knowledge of each parent's finances and earnings potential in order to assess any effects upon the child.

A Fprensic Psychiatric evaluation helps prove if a parent is "Fit" or "UnFit"

Exploring the reasons that a parent would be deemed unfit to raise a child I found these:

The definition of an unfit parent is governed by state laws, which vary by state. A parent may be deemed unfit if they have been abusive, neglected, or failed to provide proper care for the child. A parent with a mental disturbance or addiction to drugs or alcohol may also be found to be an unfit parent.

This is where a forensic psychiatric evaluation helps. The final report will show indicators, or blatent information proving such a condition exist. Along with the evaluation report and documents from agencies such as CPS, arrest records, statements raken from witness, medical records, etc are all used to determine the fitness of the parents. If a parent is proven to be unfit by any of these natures a judge CAN remove the parent from the childs life entirely by terminating their rights. I myself do not think that any parent should be removed completly from a childs life, even in grave circumstances as children need both parents. But providing the best interest of the child is imparative for the wellbeing of the children.