| We have heard it all on those CSI or NCIS television | | | | true motives. Simply put, the patient and the forensic |
| shows, but what exactly is the role of a forensic | | | | psychiatrist are often in different corners of the ring. |
| psychiatrist and how does it differ from a clinical | | | | In clinical psychiatry, the patient has no reason to lie |
| psychiatrist? In this article, we will explain briefly what a | | | | since both the patient and the clinical psychiatrist want |
| forensic psychiatrist does and note the aspects of this | | | | the patient's condition to improve. In forensic psychiatry, |
| profession versus clinical psychiatry. | | | | the patient has every reason to lie, cheat, or deceive |
| The objective of clinical psychiatry is to improve the | | | | with the intent of covering up the truth about their |
| patient's condition via a trusting relationship. Once a | | | | actions and thoughts. Patients of forensic psychiatrists |
| sense of trust is developed between the patient and | | | | will engage in this practice especially if they know they |
| the doctor, the patient opens up and tells the | | | | are guilty of a crime they are accused of committing. |
| psychiatrist everything he needs to know in order to | | | | Forensic psychiatric patients want all possible |
| develop a proper treatment plan. This process is | | | | motivations for committing a crime to be secret. They |
| cooperative, and the psychiatrist keeps all his moral or | | | | may feign or exaggerate symptoms to create an |
| value judgments to himself. | | | | insanity defense. The forensic psychiatrist is most |
| In contrast, forensic psychiatry is merely the antithesis | | | | often considered an enemy unlike a clinical psychiatrist |
| of clinical psychiatry. This form of psychiatry is | | | | who is considered a friend. |
| adversarial as opposed to cooperative. Here, moral | | | | Keep this in mind when you are watching CSI, NCIS, or |
| and value judgments are made against the patient | | | | any other type of similar program. You will know the |
| regarding his responsibility in a crime. The objective of | | | | difference between these two types of psychiatrists |
| forensic psychiatry is not to treat the patient but rather | | | | who are called to a witness stand to testify on behalf |
| dissect the patient's personality to uncover his or her | | | | of the defense or the prosecution. |