The practice of forensic psychiatry: perils, problems, and pitfalls

The practice of forensic psychiatry can be exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling; however, there are also a number of pitfalls that the practitioner may encounter. Scheduling conflicts may pose significant problems for the busy practitioner, especially one who has an active treatment practice. Differences of opinion between and among forensic psychiatrists can be difficult for some psychiatrists. Collecting fees poses a problem for some, especially in criminal cases or in prolonged civil matters. Selecting the proper cases and rejecting others is often an arduous task fraught with some peril. Preparation of reports may prove problematic when excessive demands are made upon the forensic psychiatrist. There are a number of cases that must be observed with caution and may prove to be a "no win" situation for the private forensic psychiatrist. Peer review and mentoring are two methods of helping the young forensic psychiatrist deal with some of the problems and, hopefully, avoid many of the pitfalls.