Neuroimaging in Forensic Psychiatry (PDF)

As neuroimaging becomes more widespread, it is increasingly being
used in the courts, even though understanding and interpreting
neuroimaging methods and results can be very challenging -
even without attempting to evaluate their potential applications to
forensic questions. The sheer volume of available information,
research results, and opinions can seem intimidating to forensic
practitioners and to mental health professionals in general.

This will be the first book dedicated to this important topic.
Designed as a reference for forensic psychiatrists, it starts with
a brief overview of the psychiatric applications of the primary
neuroimaging techniques currently in most widespread use, positron
emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed
tomography (SPECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Subsequent chapters explore the current and potential uses of
neuroimaging in civil and criminal forensic contexts. Diagnostic
categories addressed include traumatic brain injury, dementia,
psychopathy, paraphilias, psychoses and mood disorders. Legal
concepts such as admissibility, relevance, and standards of proof
are reviewed as they relate to the possible uses of neuroimaging
findings in legal proceedings; prior precedents and court decisions
are also reviewed. Novel potential applications of neuroimaging,
including detection of deception and identification of memory or
recognition, are addressed in dedicated chapters.

There is a growing body of writing on the ethical implications
of neuroimaging in the legal context, but this has largely been in
bioethics journals that have limited readership among members of
the mental health profession. Ethical questions generated by the
rapidly evolving field of forensic neuroimaging are explored in
detail in a dedicated chapter.

This book will be of great use to practicing forensic
psychiatrists, forensic psychologists and forensic neurologists as
they are increasingly likely to find themselves being asked to give
professional opinions regarding the impact of neuroimaging findings
on medicolegal questions such as competence, criminal
responsibility, personal injury and disability. The book will be an
invaluable resource for forensic practitioners seeking to
understand and navigate this new area.