PAR Winter 2021 Clinical DigitalCatalog Final - Flipbook - Page 148
CLI NI CIAN’S CO RNE R
Mark Ruiz, PhD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist at the James A. Haley
Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa and coauthor of the Personality Assessment
Inventory Interpretive Report for Correctional Settings (PAI-CS; see page
145). He specializes in competency to stand trial, mental state at the time
Out with the old...
...in with the new.
of offense, violence and sexual recidivism risk assessment, and
sentencing mitigation.
Why is it helpful to include a measure of
personality in forensic evaluations?
to ensure the availability and integrity of
Psychological testing that can address
Forensic clinicians who typically work in
multiple clinical issues in an objective manner
correctional or criminal justice settings are
adds credibility to any evaluation. Judges,
hampered by a lack of access to facilities and
juries, and law enforcement often are not
an inability to do face-to-face encounters due
reassured when a clinician makes an opinion
to the infection control protocols in place.
based solely on the words that came out of
Even in situations where access is available,
the client’s mouth. “Because he told me so” is
many clients do not have the know-how or
not typically a persuasive argument.
computer access to take a psychological test
Psychological testing backed by science tends
remotely. Having the capacity to administer
to be well received in the court of law.
tests via telehealth and to ensure the validity
What makes the PAI unique from
other instruments?
of the results will be crucial for forensic
psychology.
growing body of research validating the use of
What is one thing we can glean from
psychological science to improve
mental health outcomes during the
current collective pandemic crisis?
various PAI scales, most notably Negative
I think psychology has emphasized the
Impression Management (NIM) and Antisocial
importance of human connection, something
Features (ANT), is helpful in generating
that has taken a big hit with the social distancing
persuasive opinions in the forensic setting.
and protective protocols that come with our
The PAI’s ability to measure personality
pathology and substance use independently is
critical in many forensic evaluations. The
How do you see the field of forensic
psychology changing in the next 10 years?
146
psychological testing will be very important.
outdated test with
decades-old normative
data to determine
visual organization
impairment? Bring your
practice out of the dark ages with a
modern assessment tool that’s more
reliable and valid.
NEW! Assess clients safely in your office with our new Identi-Fi In-Person
Stimulus Book. See page 23.
response to the pandemic. Efforts to maintain
connections during this time are more crucial
than ever, particularly for the elderly and for
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an
vulnerable populations that have been isolated
emphasis on telehealth. As such, technologies
for extended periods of time.
Forensic/Criminal Justice
Still relying on an
See page 71 or visit parinc.com/Identifi
Creating Connections. Changing Lives.