In psychiatry there are typically two different types of evaluations.  There are "Patient Care" or "Treatment" Evaluations, and "Forensic" Evaluations.  Treatment evaluations are what most think of when they imagine seeing a psychiatrist: they identify a problem with which they would like help, find a knowledgable provider, and obtain a diagnosis and treatment plan.  Although forensic evaluations may be provided by the exact same doctor, the origin and purpose of these are quite different.  It is simplest (though an oversimplification) to think about them as evaluations performed strictly for a legal purpose.

1. These evaluations are usually performed at the request of an outside party (typically a court or attorney).
2. It is important to remember that you are not seeing the doctor for treatment.  After the evaluation, our providers will not be considered your treating psychiatrists and will be unable to provide you with treatment or medication advice/management.
3. The information you discuss with your doctor will not be treated with the same degree of confidentiality.  Any and all aspects of this discussion is considered admissible to the court or third party requestor.
4. The final report created from this meeting will be submitted directly to the outside party.  We will not be able to provide it to you as it will be thereafter considered their property – if you wish to see a copy, you will have to correspond directly with them.