Psychiatric Witness in Court

Calvin A. Colarusso MD, is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego and training and supervising analyst in adult and child psychoanalysis at the San Diego Center for Psychoanalysis.

Calvin Colarusso, who has written about the devastating impact of childhood sexual abuse, now turns his attention to the art and science of being a psychiatric witness in the legal system. With the help of lucid vignettes and in a step-by-step manner, Colarusso dispels misconceptions regarding the courtroom and guides us through the labyrinthine process of cross-examination in the court. He delineates the stands one needs to take in order to be comprehensible, even-handed, and just under such circumstances. Since any and all of us can be called to testify on behalf of our patients, Colarusso’s book is of immense help!

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Accepting the RoleChapter 2: Professional and Personal Relationships with Lawyers.Chapter 3: Components of a Thorough Adult Forensic Evaluation.Chapter 4: Components of a Thorough Child Forensic Psychiatric EvaluationChapter 5: The DepositionChapter 6: Testifying in CourtChapter 7: Testifying in CourtChapter 8: The Case of Evan DoeChapter 9: A Survey of the Legal LiteratureBibliography