WHY USE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERT TO HELP PREPARE YOUR CASE?
While a through clinical interview and a review of medical and other collateral information is essential to any forensic examination, qualified psychological experts also have specialized expertise and knowledge about psychological testing and how it relates to a broad range of legal issues.

WHY IS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING IMPORTANT?
Just as medical tests are more reliable than a physician’s observation in diagnosing physical illness, psychological testing provides a scientifically valid means of assessing psychological functioning and credibility. There are a number of psychological tests proven to be valid and reliable in assessing symptoms of mental illness, emotional distress, cognitive and intellectual impairment, and personality traits. There are also test instruments that can assess malingering and dissimulation, which frequently occur in the context of legal issues.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A FORENSIC PSYCHOLGOICAL EVALUATION?
Dr. McNaught reviews medical and mental health treatment records, previous psychological examinations, employment records, and other legal documents. She then proceeds with a clinical interview to obtain a social history. Well-validated, reliable psychological testing as well as situation-specific inventories are then administered. Contact with collateral sources is conducted as needed.

Following the evaluation, Dr. McNaught provides oral and written reports as requested. Her reports are comprehensive and based on solid clinical assessment as well as an objective review of the pertinent records. The goal of these evaluations is to compare psychological testing and interview data with medical, counseling, and legal records in order to assess credibility and psychological functioning.  Such evaluations assess psychological functioning, both before and after the event in question, in order to arrive at opinions regarding the impact of injury.