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Forensic Psychiatrist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewThe branch of medicine called forensic psychiatry focuses on the interface of mental health and law. This includes the consulting of forensic psychiatrists in a broad range of clinical work with victims and perpetrators, as well as legal matters.
A forensic psychiatrist is a psychiatric doctor who has the additional training and experience necessary to deal with the law and mental illness or mental health. A forensic psychiatrist often applies his or her forensic psychiatry expertise in legal matters from a totally objective point of view.
Some of the many roles and tasks that a forensic psychiatrist performs to assist an attorney or court are:
- Violent risk assessment
- Assisting the court/jury to understand the motivation for an act or understand mental disorders
- Evaluating child custody such as child neglect and abuse
- Elderly neglect and abuse evaluations
- Competency of a person to refuse care, make medical or financial decisions
- Psychological harm sustained in personal injury or worker’s compensation
- Court testimony depositions
- Determining capacity, responsibility and wrongful conduct in such cases as extreme emotional disturbance/heat of passion, insanity defense, intoxication
- Prove that someone is or is not adequately qualified intellectually and physically to be a parent or parent a child with extreme mental illness
- Opinions regarding bystander harm, sexual harassment, disability, post-traumatic stress and inflicting emotional distress intentionally
- Civil rights of a mental patient or involuntary commitment to mental facility
Not all forensic psychiatrists work in criminal matters. They may be involved in malpractice lawsuits, civil litigation, examine the competence of a person regarding child custody, making a will or accepting medical care. They work with and help people that are mentally ill and break the law, help crime victims and explain to judges and lawyers the psychological facets of their cases.
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Career RequirementsPhysicians and surgeons have extremely difficult and rigorous education programs that require dedication and hard work. To become a forensic psychiatrist requires four years of college followed by four years of training at medical school. Next comes residency training in psychiatry for four years followed by up to two years of forensic psychiatry fellowship residency. Psychiatry training now has a number of combined specialty courses available that reduces the length of training time required.
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Job OutlookThe need for forensic psychiatrists continues to grow as the population increases, technology becomes even more sophisticated and patients demand advanced and improved healthcare.
In the Unites States, there are approximately 45,000 psychiatrists but even with the number of number of medical students entering into forensic psychiatry, there are still not enough qualified and experienced doctors to meet the demand. There are also many vacancies to fill as surgeons and physicians continue to retire over the next eight years. Psychiatry is a shortage specialty with subspecialties such as forensic psychiatrist in even greater demand.
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Career TrackA forensic psychiatrist has many options regarding career choices, changes and advancements. Many choose to enter into private practice while others work as consultants in courts, head up research projects or research based careers. Others enter into teaching at colleges and universities.
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CompensationThe average annual salary for forensic psychiatrists ranges from approximately $182,000 to well over $300,000.
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