Forensic Psychiatry: Essential Board Review

In Forensic Psychiatry: Essential Board Review, Helen Farrell, MD has created a succinct and practical nuts-and-bolts board review supplement that warrants a look from those who intend to sit for the forensic psychiatry board examination. In her introduction, Farrell makes it clear that the impetus for her writing Forensic Psychiatry: Essential Board Review was her desire for a “concise and efficient study aid” to “complement the detailed information provided within the numerous forensic psychiatry textbooks” (p ix), as well as the AAPL Forensic Psychiatry Review Course. Toward that end, I believe that the book has succeeded and fills a gap that has been lacking.

Intended for rapid review and rote memorization, as well as self-assessment, the book is the first of its kind and was developed primarily for forensic psychiatrists, although time may show its utility in introducing others to the field of forensic psychiatry. The text is divided into four sections. Section 1 is a brief primer on how to register and prepare for the forensic psychiatry board examination itself. The section contains some information that I had not found elsewhere, not even during the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) Forensic Psychiatry Review Course. Therefore, it may serve to relax those who are studying by themselves and are without the benefit of a study companion against whom to gauge their study progress.

Section 2 comprises an extremely brief (11 pages) presentation of high-yield notes on forensic psychiatry. Needless to say, those sitting for the board examination will need additional study material, and that was the author's intention. However, given the brevity of this section, one wonders why perhaps these 11 pages were not omitted completely and used for other purposes, such as for sample board questions.

Section 3 consists of approximately 50 pages summarizing landmark cases in the field of forensic psychiatry, most of which are represented on AAPL's Landmark Cases list. As would be expected, readers will find that the 105 cases covered in this book have considerable overlap with the 120 cases covered in Landmark Cases in Forensic Psychiatry by Elizabeth Ford and Merrill Rotter. Cases are summarized succinctly, with a statement of the legal issue, a summary of the facts, and the holding.

Section 4 is probably the most unique and useful portion of the book, as it contains 129 board-style questions. It is unfortunate that these questions are not numbered for ease of use. Nevertheless, they appear to focus on high-yield topics and provide a question bank of forensic psychiatry material that is, to my knowledge, not offered anywhere else. Those taking the forensic psychiatry board examination would be wise to purchase this book for the material in Section 4 alone.

In summary, Forensic Psychiatry: Essential Board Review offers a concise and succinct supplement to augment a prudent test taker's study plan. It is not a stand-alone review course, but then it does not purport to be one. It satisfies a previously unmet need, and, a few typographical errors aside, it is certainly worth considering as an aid for those preparing for the forensic psychiatry board examination.

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