Forensic Psychiatry

Objective: This paper provides an overview of the subspecialty of forensic psychiatry. Method: A review of recent literature in the field of forensic psychiatry was undertaken, with emphasis on current publications. Results: Forensic psychiatry encompasses legal issues, such as fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility, medical negligence, expert testimony; criminal issues such as aggression and violence, homicide and sex offending; civil issues such as competence, workers' compensation, mental health act legislation and guardianship; ethical issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, euthanasia, and research. Special areas of interest include suicide, malingering and child and aged forensic psychiatry. Conclusion: Areas such as violence and ethics have received considerable attention, but much research needs to be done in the areas of child and aged forensic psychiatry, suicide prevention, sex offender treatment, criminal responsibility and civil compensation.