Causality of Psychological Injury : Presenting Evidence in Court

This sequel to the authors’ **Psychological Knowledge in Court** offers a welcome expansion on key concepts, terms, and issues in causality, bringing much needed clarity to psychological injury assessments and the legal contexts that employ them. Focusing on PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain (and grounding readers in salient U.S. and Canadian case law), **Causality** sets out a multifactorial causality framework to facilitate admissibility of psychological evidence in court. Issues concerning malingering are examined in depth, as are clinical gray areas that can jeopardize validity. At the same time, the book clearly explains what lawyers and clinicians need to understand about each other’s work—of crucial importance since the two sides often seem to speak at cross-purposes. The authors and six guest contributors * Illustrate the roles of preexisting vulnerabilities, traumatic events, and post-event occurrences in psychological impairment and disability * Review the literature on PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain for legal relevance * Identify current challenges and controversies in the field, as well as emerging areas for research * Recommend methods and instruments for conducting more courtworthy assessments * Provide a detailed critical review of malingering and related phenomena * Propose a more accurate, shared terminology of causality Valid causality judgments are based on sound knowledge of research on large populations and careful testing of individuals; at the same time they must conform to stringent legal standards of relevance and reliability to be accepted for testimony. Forensic practitioners and attorneys will turn to **Causality of Psychological Injury** as their professional paths increasingly cross in seeking comprehensive and state of the art information.

this Sequel To The Authors’ Psychological Knowledge In Court Offers A Welcome Expansion On Key Concepts, Terms, And Issues In Causality, Bringing Much Needed Clarity To Psychological Injury Assessments And The Legal Contexts That Employ Them.

focusing On Ptsd, Traumatic Brain Injury, And Chronic Pain (and Grounding Readers In Salient U.s. And Canadian Case Law), Causality Sets Out A Multifactorial Causality Framework To Facilitate Admissibility Of Psychological Evidence In Court. Issues Concerning Malingering Are Examined In Depth, As Are Clinical Gray Areas That Can Jeopardize Validity. At The Same Time, The Book Clearly Explains What Lawyers And Clinicians Need To Understand About Each Other’s Work—of Crucial Importance Since The Two Sides Often Seem To Speak At Cross-purposes.

the Authors And Six Guest Contributors

• illustrate The Roles Of Preexisting Vulnerabilities, Traumatic Events, And Post-event Occurrences In Psychological Impairment And Disability
• review The Literature On Ptsd, Tbi, And Chronic Pain For Legal Relevance
• identify Current Challenges And Controversies In The Field, As Well As Emerging Areas For Research
• recommend Methods And Instruments For Conducting More Courtworthy Assessments
• provide A Detailed Critical Review Of Malingering And Related Phenomena
• propose A More Accurate, Shared Terminology Of Causality

valid Causality Judgments Are Based On Sound Knowledge Of Research On Large Populations And Careful Testing Of Individuals; At The Same Time They Must Conform To Stringent Legal Standards Of Relevance And Reliability To Be Accepted For Testimony. Forensic Practitioners And Attorneys Will Turn To Causality Of Psychological Injury As Their Professional Paths Increasingly Cross In Seeking Comprehensive And State Of The Art Information.

doody Review Services

reviewer:christopher J. Graver, Phd(madigan Army Medical Center)
description:presenting Evidence In Court Can Be A Daunting Challenge Both From A Scientific And Professional Standpoint. This Book Is Part Of A Two-volume Series On Causality, Psychology, And Law That Has The Broad Intent Of Informing Psychologists And Lawyers About The Interaction Between Mental Health And Evidence Law.
purpose:the Need To Keep Abreast Of The Relevant Legal Standards And Expectations Has Never Been More Critical And This Book Aims To Provide Guidance To Psychologists Presenting Evidence In Court As It Applies To Psychological Injury.
audience:psychologists Appear To Be The Main Audience For This Book, But Lawyers Also May Find It Of Interest To Gain A Different Perspective On Psychological Injury. Students Of These Disciplines And Anyone Involved In Presenting Evidence In Court Would Find The General Legal Information Helpful.
features:the Information In This Book Is Fairly Specific On Many Topics, But It Never Becomes Tedious. There Are Introductory And Concluding Statements For The Chapters That Help To Keep The Reader Focused On The Main Points. For Novice Readers, There Is A Good Introduction To Case Law Regarding Evidence In Court And A Dictionary Of Terms Located In One Of The Early Chapters. The Middle Chapters Cover Specific Psychological Injuries That Are Common To Forensic Practice, Including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Pain, And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. In Addition To These Specific Topics, There Are More General Topics On Assessments In A Legal Context And Presenting Evidence In Court. Finally, There Is A Fairly Robust Section On Malingering As Related To The Three Main Psychological Injuries Discussed Previously. There Are Plenty Of References To Court Cases That Have Precedence, As Well As Other Relevant References To The Psychological Injuries Themselves, Although The First Volume In This Series Provides A More Thorough Review Of The Literature.
assessment:this Is A Fantastic Introduction To The Interface Between Psychology And The Law. It Contains Enough General Information That Novices Will Have A Secure Foundation Before Delving Into Specific Topics, And More Advanced Readers Can Easily Skip Ahead To The Chapters Particular To Psychological Injury And Malingering. It Would Be Folly For Anyone Involved In Presenting Psychological Evidence In Court To Be Without This Volume (and Perhaps The First Volume As Well).

This book offers a welcome expansion on key concepts, terms, and issues in causality. It brings much needed clarity to psychological injury assessments and the legal contexts that employ them. Focusing on PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain (and grounding readers in salient U.S. and Canadian case law), the book sets out a multifactorial causality framework to facilitate admissibility of psychological evidence in court.