This episode of Emotional Damages features Dr. Mark Levy, fpamed Medical Director and forensic psychiatrist, in conversation with Dr. Michelle Ward—psychologist, neuroscientist, and acclaimed crime documentary and podcast host. Dr. Ward shares her pioneering research on psychopathy, the biological and environmental roots of violent offending, and the evolving science of predicting predatory behavior. From her groundbreaking MRI studies on murderers to her consulting work on high-profile criminal trials, Dr. Ward offers lawyers and forensic professionals a rare insider’s perspective on where cutting-edge brain science meets the real world of criminal litigation.

Dr. Ward also hosts two highly regarded podcasts: The Mind of a Murderer and Look Who’s Stalking, where she continues to explore the psychology and science behind the world’s most complex criminal minds.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How brain imaging and neuroscience are reshaping our understanding of psychopathy and criminal behavior
• Genetic and environmental influences on violent and predatory conduct
• Key findings from the Southern California Twin Project
• Challenges and ethics of profiling “future risk” in children and adults
• Behind-the-scenes of crime documentaries and real-world expert consulting

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
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In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Ashley VanDercar, fpamed forensic psychiatry associate, to explore how experts assess two of the most complex and high-stakes issues in forensic psychiatry: malingering and violence risk. Together, they explore the intricacies of malingering assessments and the importance of comprehensive record reviews. Dr. VanDercar then provides nuanced insights into violence risk factors, particularly in the context of severe mental illness. The episode concludes with practical advice for attorneys on effective collaboration with forensic psychiatric experts, emphasizing the synergy between legal context and psychiatric evaluation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Potential presentations of malingering (pure, partial, or false imputation)
• How experts seek to differentiate genuine symptoms from feigned or exaggerated ones
• The notion of violence risk factors, and how experts assess violence risk
• Why attorney–expert collaboration strengthens the precision of forensic opinions

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and paraphilic disorders. Listener discretion is advised. The content may be distressing or triggering for some listeners.

In this episode, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Brian Holoyda, Chief Psychiatrist for Contra Costa County’s detention facilities and an internationally recognized expert on paraphilic disorders and sexual violence risk assessment. The conversation guides attorneys through the complexities of forensic assessments in sexually violent predator (SVP) cases, paraphilic disorder diagnosis, and the pivotal role of standardized risk assessment tools.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The distinction between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders in psychiatric diagnosis
• Critical elements and instruments in sexual violence risk assessment: Static-99R, SVR-20, Stable-2007
• How legal decisions hinge on psychiatric diagnoses and structured risk evaluations
• Comparisons between U.S. and international forensic psychiatric practice
• Attorney strategies for challenging or supporting risk assessment findings in court

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.