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.
