Forensic child and adolescent psychiatry

This brief chapter has been written as an overview of child and adolescent forensic psychiatry. An attempt was made to briefly and simply summarize several topics. At the end of the chapter, the interested reader will find additional sources to pursue areas of interest in depth. Many important issues were not addressed, including aggression, homicide, the child as witness, countertransference issues, lesbian mothers and gay fathers, and dual-agency conflicts, among others. These and other issues are beyond the scope of this brief chapter, but nonetheless, important issues in forensic child and adolescent psychiatry. Forensic child and adolescent psychiatry is not for everyone. Those interested in working in the field will find it challenging. Beginners are urged to seek consultation from more experienced colleagues and the inexperienced practitioners will find consultation helpful. Although some may wish to avoid the forensic arena completely, those of us who work in the field find it rewarding.