Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Litigation

From The Critics

Reviewer: Mark R. McClung, MD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This is a well-written new book on clinical assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for purposes of personal injury litigation. It is written by several highly respected and well-known forensic mental health professionals and attorneys.
Purpose: The purpose is to bring direction, discipline, and guidelines to the forensic psychiatric assessment of PTSD.
Audience: Although intended for a variety of disciplines, the writing level is primarily geared to mental health professionals.
Features: The book is well organized and well written. The book combines several topics that are otherwise hard to find in one place: an overview of legal issues, guidelines for clinical assessment of PTSD in adults and children, and a review of clinical research on PTSD. It breaks new ground by proposing quality guidelines for forensic assessment of PTSD, a very timely and relevant issue because damage claims related to PTSD are fast increasing in civil litigation. The book is intended as a clinical review and provides important general guidelines, but is not designed as a how-to manual for clinicians. The introduction and early chapters also provide an easily understood review of the relevant legal issues in the forensic evaluation of PTSD.
Assessment: This book is a very useful background and reference text for mental health clinicians performing evaluations for legal purposes. I would recommend it for medical libraries and mental health professionals who deal with litigation assessments; it is not written as clearly for legal or insurance professionals.

Mark R. McClung

This is a well-written new book on clinical assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for purposes of personal injury litigation. It is written by several highly respected and well-known forensic mental health professionals and attorneys. The purpose is to bring direction, discipline, and guidelines to the forensic psychiatric assessment of PTSD. Although intended for a variety of disciplines, the writing level is primarily geared to mental health professionals. The book is well organized and well written. The book combines several topics that are otherwise hard to find in one place: an overview of legal issues, guidelines for clinical assessment of PTSD in adults and children, and a review of clinical research on PTSD. It breaks new ground by proposing quality guidelines for forensic assessment of PTSD, a very timely and relevant issue because damage claims related to PTSD are fast increasing in civil litigation. The book is intended as a clinical review and provides important general guidelines, but is not designed as a how-to manual for clinicians. The introduction and early chapters also provide an easily understood review of the relevant legal issues in the forensic evaluation of PTSD. This book is a very useful background and reference text for mental health clinicians performing evaluations for legal purposes. I would recommend it for medical libraries and mental health professionals who deal with litigation assessments; it is not written as clearly for legal or insurance professionals.

4 Stars! from Doody