Evaluating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the Forensic Context

Natalie Novick Brown, a clinical and forensic psychologist in Washington State, Alaska, and Florida, is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences (courtesy staff) at the University of Washington School of Medicine. An international expert on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), with formal postdoctoral training and expertise in FASD as well as sexual offenders and child development, she has worked in many jurisdictions in the United States evaluating individuals charged with murder and other high-stakes crimes. In 2007, she and colleagues founded FASDExperts, a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals that conducted forensic FASD assessments in the capital murder context. In 2012, she contributed to the American Bar Association’s Resolution on FASD. Dr. Brown developed this unique collection in order to reduce the ‘invisibility’ of FASD in the mental health field and encourage colleagues to specialize in this all-too-often “invisible” disorder.

• 1. Diagnostic history: Prenatal exposure to alcohol and other teratogens.- 2. Relevance of FASD in the Forensic Context.- 3. Prevalence and screening.- 4. Confirming prenatal exposure(s).- 5. Neuropsychological assessment in adults.- 6. Neuropsychological assessment in adolescents.- 7. Medical examination and differential diagnosis.- 8. Neuroimaging in FASD.- 9. 'Connecting the dots': Assessing lifelong adaptive behavior history.- 10. Comorbidity.- 11. FASD and ID equivalence.- 12. Juvenile justice evaluations.- 13. Sexual offender evaluations.- 14. Evaluating competency.- 15. Medicating FASD in the forensic context.- 16. Vulnerable victims with FASD.- 17. View form the bench: FASD in the courtroom.