Neuroimaging in Forensic Psychiatry: From the Clinic to the Courtroom

Description

As neuroimaging becomes more widespread, it is increasingly being used in the courts, even though understanding and interpreting neuroimaging methods and results can be very challenging – even without attempting to evaluate their potential applications to forensic questions. The sheer volume of available information, research results, and opinions can seem intimidating to forensic practitioners and to mental health professionals in general. This will be the first book dedicated to this important topic. Designed as a reference for forensic psychiatrists, it starts with a brief overview of the psychiatric applications of the primary neuroimaging techniques currently in most widespread use, positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subsequent chapters explore the current and potential uses of neuroimaging in civil and criminal forensic contexts. Diagnostic categories addressed include traumatic brain injury, dementia, psychopathy, paraphilias, psychoses and mood disorders. Legal concepts such as admissibility, relevance, and standards of proof are reviewed as they relate to the possible uses of neuroimaging findings in legal proceedings; prior precedents and court decisions are also reviewed. Novel potential applications of neuroimaging, including detection of deception and identification of memory or recognition, are addressed in dedicated chapters.There is a growing body of writing on the ethical implications of neuroimaging in the legal context, but this has largely been in bioethics journals that have limited readership among members of the mental health profession. Ethical questions generated by the rapidly evolving field of forensic neuroimaging are explored in detail in a dedicated chapter.This book will be of great use to practicing forensic psychiatrists, forensic psychologists and forensic neurologists as they are increasingly likely to find themselves being asked to give professional opinions regarding the impact of neuroimaging findings on medicolegal questions such as competence, criminal responsibility, personal injury and disability. The book will be an invaluable resource for forensic practitioners seeking to understand and navigate this new area.Content: Chapter 1 PET and SPECT (pages 1–25): Susan E. Rushing, Daniel A. Pryma and Daniel D. LanglebenChapter 2 MRI and Functional MRI (pages 27–40): Erin D. Bigler, Mark Allen and Gary K. StimacChapter 3 Traumatic Brain Injury (pages 41–65): Robert P. GranacherChapter 4 Dementia (pages 67–80): Melissa Lamar, Hal Wortzel, David J. Libon, Denene M. Wambach, Catherine C. Price and Anand KumarChapter 5 Neuroimaging in Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder: Functional Significance and a Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis (pages 81–98): Andrea L. Glenn, Yaling Yang and Adrian RaineChapter 6 Pedophilia (pages 99–111): Christine Wiebking, Alexander Sartorius, Harald Dressing and Georg NorthoffChapter 7 Imaging Psychoses: Diagnosis and Prediction of Violence (pages 113–129): Jazmin Camchong and Angus W. MacDonaldChapter 8 Neuroimaging in Affective Disorders: Applications in Clinical Research and Forensic Psychiatry (pages 131–143): Jonathan B. Savitz, Joseph R. Simpson and Wayne C. DrevetsChapter 9 Application of Neuroimaging in Relationship to Competence to Stand Trial and Insanity (pages 145–162): Nathan J. Kolla and Jonathan D. BrodieChapter 10 Neuroimaging, Diminished Capacity and Mitigation (pages 163–193): Judith G. Edersheim, Rebecca Weintraub Brendel and Bruce H. PriceChapter 11 Implications of Neuroimaging for Dangerousness Assessment (pages 195–200): Joachim WitzelChapter 12 Potential Uses of Neuroimaging in Personal Injury Civil Cases (pages 201–213): Robert P. GranacherChapter 13 Brain Imaging of Deception (pages 215–236): Daniel D. Langleben, Dan F. X. Willard and Jane C. MoriartyChapter 14 Identifying Memories and their Use in Interrogations (pages 237–252): Johanna C. van HooffChapter 15 Practical Legal Concerns (pages 253–273): Kristen M. NugentChapter 16 Neuroimaging and the Constitution (pages 275–302): Kristen M. NugentChapter 17 Practical Legal Concerns: The England and Wales Context (pages 303–324): Shuja M. Reagu and Pamela J. TaylorChapter 18 Neuroethics of Functional Neuroimaging in the Courtroom (pages 325–340): Elizabeth Ford and Neil AggarwalChapter 19 Neuroimaging Evidence in Law: A Plea for Modesty and Relevance (pages 341–357): Stephen J. Morse