Pediatric Forensic Neuropsychology

Pediatric Forensic Neuropsychology is the premier reference text on the practice and process of civil forensic neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents. Written by an expert group of authors, this text is a comprehensive and authoritative guide for neuropsychologists who engage in forensic work.

Pediatric Forensic Neuropsychology is the authoritative, definitive reference on the practice and process of civil forensic neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents. With chapters authored by top experts in the field of pediatric neuropsychology and forensic neuropsychology, this book provides critical, knowledgeable, and expert information for clinicians, attorneys, physicians and other professionals involved in forensic pediatric neuropsychological assessment. Pediatric Forensic Neuropsychology covers core theoretical and practical topics including the role of pediatric neuropsychology in the courtroom, ethics, test selection, advanced interpretation of test results, tools for assessing sub-optimal performance, differential diagnosis of malingering and related conditions, and factors such as culture and pre-morbid conditions. In addition, in-depth review and clinical case descriptions of mild traumatic brain injury, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, the independent educational evaluation, and the diagnosis of psychological and psychiatric conditions such as secondary ADHD in the context of the forensic neuropsychological evaluation are covered in detail. The book also includes a toolbox of forms useful for conducting clinical forensic evaluations which will be of particular interest to practicing clinicians.

This is a scientific approach to forensic neuropsychology, consistent with the Daubert ruling defining forensic expertise. The text covers the scientific basis of forensic neuropsychology, ethics of forensic practice, pediatric brain injury, and criminal competency and responsibility.

In recent years, forensic neuropsychology has become a practice area of explosive growth and interest. This text elucidates the practice of forensic neuropsychology for those who need to understand the scope and limitations of this field. Fifteen chapters by neuropsychology and legal experts organized into four sections (Fundamentals, Practice Expertise, Relevant Populations, and Parameters of the Legal Arena) convey authoritatively a breadth of relevant information and the state-of-the-art of forensic neuropsychology. Topic coverage includes essential psychometrics, evaluation of premorbid function, personality and emotional functioning, complexities of executive functions, variables affecting decision-making, clinical and scientific foundations of the neuropsychological evaluation, differential diagnosis, malingering, ecological validity, mild traumatic brain injury, neurotoxin-related encephalopathy, special pediatric issues. Forensic Neuropsychology will be useful for: practicing clinical neuropsychologists and those in advanced training, plaintiff and defense attorneys whose practices include brain injured individuals, and other health care providers in non-psychology disciplines (e.g., psychiatry, neurology) who are providing expert opinions in litigated brain injury cases, and in doing so use and interact with opinions of neuropsychologists.

"Straight talking, timely, and eminently practical, this book is rewarding reading for neuropsychologists working in the courts, other mental health professionals who may be called to serve as expert witnesses, and interested legal professionals. It is also an informative resource for graduate students in neuropsychology."--BOOK JACKET.

With increasing frequency neuropsychologists are being asked to serve as experts in court cases where judgements must be made as to the cause of, and prognosis for brain diseases and injuries. This book describes the application of neuropsychology to legal issues in both the civil and criminal courts. It emphasizes a scientific basis of neuropsychology. All of the contributors are recognized as scientist-clinicians. The chapters cover common forensic issues such as appropriate scientific reasoning, the assessment of malingering, productive attorney-neuropsychologist interactions, and ethics. Also, covered are the determination of damages in personal injury litigation, including pediatric brain injury, mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury in adults (with an introduction to life care planning); neurotoxic injury; and forensic assessment of medically unexplained symptoms. Civil competencies in the elderly persons with dementia are addressed a separate chapter, and two chapters deal with the assessment of competency and responsibility in criminal forensic neuropsychology. This volume will be an invaluable resource for neuropsychologists, attorneys, neurologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and their students and trainees.

ìBy far, the most comprehensive and detailed coverage of pediatric neuropsychology available in a single book today, Davis provides coverage of basic principles of pediatric neuropsychology, but overall the work highlights applications to daily practice and special problems encountered by the pediatric neuropsychologist.î Cecil R. Reynolds, PhD Texas A&M University "The breadth and depth of this body of work is impressive. Chapters written by some of the best researchers and authors in the field of pediatric neuropsychology address every possible perspective on brain-behavior relationships culminating in an encyclopedic textÖ. This [book] reflects how far and wide pediatric neuropsychology has come in the past 20 years and the promise of how far it will go in the next." Elaine Fletcher-Janzen, EdD, NCSP, ABPdN The Chicago School of Professional Psychology "...it would be hard to imagine a clinical situation in pediatric neuropsychology in whichthis book would fail as a valuable resource."--Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology "I believe there is much to recommend this hefty volume. It is a solid reference that I can see appreciating as a resource as I update my training bibliography."--Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society This landmark reference covers all aspects of pediatric neuropsychology from a research-based perspective, while presenting an applied focus with practical suggestions and guidelines for clinical practice. Useful both as a training manual for graduate students and as a comprehensive reference for experienced practitioners, it is an essential resource for those dealing with a pediatric population. This handbook provides an extensive overview of the most common medical conditions that neuropsychologists encounter while dealing with pediatric populations. It also discusses school-based issues such as special education law, consulting with school staff, and reintegrating children back into mainstream schools. It contains over 100 well-respected authors who are leading researchers in their respective fields. Additionally, each of the 95 chapters includes an up-to-date review of available research, resulting in the most comprehensive text on pediatric neuropsychology available in a single volume. Key Features: Provides thorough information on understanding functional neuroanatomy and development, and on using functional neuroimaging Highlights clinical practice issues, such as legal and ethical decision-making, dealing with child abuse and neglect, and working with school staff Describes a variety of professional issues that neuropsychologists must confront during their daily practice, such as ethics, multiculturalism, child abuse, forensics, and psychopharmacology

A guide to working effectively with children in the criminaljustice system Uniquely designed to train psychology, criminology, and socialwork students to work with children in the criminal justicesystem—both in the courtroom and as clinicalclients—Forensic Child Psychology presents currentresearch and practice-based knowledge to improve the judicial andchild welfare systems. Authors Matthew Fanetti, William T. O'Donohue, Rachel N. Happel,and Kresta N. Daly bring their combined expertise in childpsychology, forensic interviewing, and criminal prosecution to bearon the process of obtaining accurate information from childreninvolved in legal proceedings, preparing professionals to workwith: Children who are victims of crime Children who are perpetrators of crime Children who are witnesses of crime The book also covers related topics, including mandatedreporting, the structure of juvenile justice and advocacy systems,and contains sidebars, summaries, glossaries, and study questionsto assist with material mastery. This is an excellent resource for students of childpsychopathology in psychology, social work, nursing, and criminaljustice at the graduate and late undergraduate stage of theireducations.