What is the Difference between a Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist and a General Board-Certified Psychiatrist?

FAQ: What is the Difference between a Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist and a general Board-Certified Psychiatrist?

Board-Certification in Forensic Psychiatry is granted by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. It reflects a level of medico-legal training with its unique skillset which is different from the training of a Board-Certified general psychiatrist.

Board-Certification in (General) Psychiatry

Residency in Psychiatry is focused on diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic Psychiatry, on the other hand, adds an additional year of training in a fellowship learning about medico-legal issues like malingering, independent medical evaluations in litigation, criminal behavior, what to look for in a forensic assessment with a degree of training in the interface of psychiatry and law not developed by Psychiatrists not Board-Certified in Forensic Psychiatry.

Misrepresented Forensic Psychiatrists

Beware, there are Psychiatrists who claim to be “Forensic Psychiatrists” but do not hold Board-Certification. Whether omission or intentional, attorneys should confirm the credentials of any Expert Witness for accuracy. Once your expert is on the stand is not the time to find out they meant “forensic psychiatrist” in lower case and not actual Board-Certification in Forensic Psychiatry.