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Forensic Psychiatry Education in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Fellowship: Results from a Multi-site Survey

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Abstract

Objective

This study examined the current state of forensic education among child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) fellowship programs, regarding specific forensic topics, teaching resources, methods, and experiences. The authors aimed to gather and analyze this data to assess the need for additional standardization of forensic psychiatry education in CAP fellowship, such as broader access to resources, and/or inform the development of a standardized curriculum, including milestones, in child and adolescent forensic psychiatry.

Methods

The authors collaboratively developed a survey instrument on child and adolescent forensic psychiatry education, which was then sent to 135 accredited CAP fellowship programs. The items included in the survey instrument were designed based on literature review, expert consensus, and a 1992 American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training survey on teaching ethics and forensic psychiatry.

Results

Completed response data was returned by 25 of the 135 programs surveyed. Complete responses came primarily from academic institutions (52% public, 36% private) with small- or medium-sized programs (1–12 total fellows, 88%; 11–29 faculty members, 56%). Programs reported on CAP forensic rotation sites, faculty members’ level of expertise and involvement in forensic CAP, common forensic topics and experiences offered, and programs’ attitudes towards specific topics and experiences.

Conclusions

Child and adolescent psychiatrists must gain a clear understanding of the essential components of CAP forensic psychiatry during CAP fellowship, to mitigate discomfort when interacting with the legal system and meet the rising need for forensic CAP expertise across systems and structures impacting youth populations.

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Data Availability

Data that support the finding of this study are available from the corresponding author, Dr. Radwan, upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Ravi Ramasamy

  2. The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Karam Radwan, Miriam Robinovitz, Peter Nierman & Kristen Jacobson

Authors
  1. Ravi Ramasamy
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  2. Karam Radwan
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  3. Miriam Robinovitz
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  4. Peter Nierman
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  5. Kristen Jacobson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karam Radwan.

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Ramasamy, R., Radwan, K., Robinovitz, M. et al. Forensic Psychiatry Education in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Fellowship: Results from a Multi-site Survey. Acad Psychiatry (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-024-01958-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-024-01958-y

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