Journal of Psychiatry

Application of emotional harm inside the courtroom

28^th Euro Congress on Psychiatrists and Psychologists

July 05-06, 2018 | Vienna, Austria

Shobhit Negi

Circuit Court for Baltimore City, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

With growing public awareness about psychological ramifications of emotional trauma and em-pirical validation of trauma by the scientific community, litigation stemming from emotional trauma is increasingly being introduced in courtrooms all over the world. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) published in 2013 by the Ameri-can Psychiatric Association (APA) serves as a universal authority for psychiatric diagnosis. The recent update has made significant changes to criteria associated with posttraumatic stress disor-der (PTSD), which in turn has created challenges for forensic experts as well as the legal com-munity. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study) is a research study conducted by the American health maintenance organization Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants recruited to the study between 1995 and 1997 have been in long-term follow up for health outcomes. The study has demonstrated an association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with health and social problems as an adult. Recent anatomical and functional brain imaging indicates differences between how the brain of a victim of trauma responds to trauma-related cues versus a non-traumatized brain. Audience will learn how trauma is being used as a defense inside the courtroom, whether it be used to claim insanity or self-defense or diminished capacity, or used for sentencing mitigation, or claims related to intentional infliction of emotional harm. Since money can be a huge motivator in a lawsuit, audience will learn how to differential genuine from malingered PTSD.

Biography :

Shobhit Negi is a psychiatrist certified in adult, child and adolescent and forensic psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurologist. He has been practicing psychiatry for close to 20 years. In his capacity as director of Juvenile services at the Circuit court of Baltimore City, USA he is involved in court ordered evaluations, including competency to stand trial, child cus-tody, work place litigation in claims revolving around emotional distress, termination of parental rights, parental capacity, etc. In addition he has a private practice in which he provides direct pa-tient care, involving psychiatric evaluations and medication management and forensic consulta-tion for attorneys representing plaintiffs or defendants.

E-mail: shobhitnegi@yahoo.com