California psychology board issues sex misconduct charge against Peter J. Murphy

PsychCrime Database
Originally published August 11, 2012

On February 7, 2012, the California Board of Psychology issued and Accusation against Peter J. Murphy, Ph.D., alleging sexual misconduct and unprofessional conduct.

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From March 2009 through at least December 2010, Murphy engaged in a sexual relationship with the intern, whom he first met when he provided group therapy to her young son, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

The entire story is here.

“Hired guns,” “charlatans,” and their “voodoo psychobabble”: Case law references to various forms of perceived bias among mental health expert witnesses.

By Edens, John F.; Smith, Shannon Toney; Magyar, Melissa S.; Mullen, Kacy; Pitta, Amy; and Petrila, John

Psychological Services, Vol 9(3), Aug 2012, 259-271.

Abstract

Although in principle the legal system expects and professional ethics demand that expert witnesses be unbiased and objective in their forensic evaluations, anecdotal evidence suggests that accusations of financial bias, partisanship, and other forms of nonobjectivity are common. This descriptive survey of published legal cases expands on an earlier case law review (Mossman, 1999) attempting to encapsulate and summarize key issues concerning perceptions or allegations of bias in mental health expert witness testimony. Using a series of search terms reflecting various potential forms of accusatory bias, a total of 160 published civil and criminal court cases were identified in which 185 individuals (e.g., attorneys, trial and appellate judges, other witnesses) made one or more references to clinicians' alleged lack of neutrality. Allegations most typically involved describing the expert as having an opinion that was “for sale,” or as a partisan or advocate for one side, although aspersions also were made concerning “junk science” testimony and comparing mental health experts to mystics and sorcerers. Our results indicate that diverse forms of bias that go beyond financial motives are alleged against mental health experts by various players in the legal system. Means are discussed by which experts can attempt to reduce the impact of such allegations.

Here are two excerpts:

It should not be surprising that wholesale acceptance of mental health expertise as accurate and neutral is hardly the norm.

Clearly, some judges, attorneys, academics, and jurors view at least some mental health experts-if not the entire field-with a considerable degree of suspicion (Fradella, Fogarty, & O'Neill, 2003), if not overt distain and/or hostility.

and

In terms of putative sources of examiner bias, several forms have been suggested as potentially undermining examiner objectivity (e.g., Saks, 1990).

Perhaps the most pernicious is that opinions are for sale. It is commonly alleged that monetary incentives primarily (or completely) motivate the testimony offered by witnesses characterized as "'hired guns,' 'whores,' and 'prostitutes'" (Mossman, 1999, p. 414).

Although being for sale is frequently lodged as a criticism of expert testimony, allegations of other forms of bias may spring from perceptions that the expert has a particular personal, political, or scientific "ax to grind" in relation to a specific legal issue.

Evidence of advocacy for one's pet cause(s)--whether it is championing a particular examinee's case, the rights of fathers in child custody disputes, or a novel or controversial psychological syndrome (to name but a few possibilities)--may be justifiable grounds for questioning an examiner's objectivity and fairness as well.

For reprint requests, comments, or questions: John F. Edens, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843; Contact johnedens@tamu.edu

Thanks to Ken Pope for this information.

Psychologist Lynda Harris-Boscaino surrenders license on felony

PsychCrime Database
Originally published August 11, 2012

On April 24, 2012, the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions reported that psychologist Lynda Harris-Boscaino of Spring Valley, New York surrendered her license. Harris-Boscaino was convicted of felony Grand Larceny.

The entire story is here.

6 Practice Recommendations for Reducing Premature Termination in Therapy

Practice recommendations for reducing premature termination in therapy.

Swift, Joshua K.; Greenberg, Roger P.; Whipple, Jason L.; Kominiak, Nina

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol 43(4), Aug 2012, 379-387.

 

Abstract

 

Premature termination from therapy is a significant problem frequently encountered by practicing clinicians of all types. In fact, a recent meta-analytic review (J. K. Swift & R. P. Greenberg, 2012, Premature discontinuation in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. doi:10.1037/a0028226) of 669 studies found that approximately 20% of all clients drop out of treatment prematurely, with higher rates among some types of clients and in some settings. Although this dropout rate is lower than previously estimated, a significant number of clients are still prematurely terminating, and thus further research toward a solution is warranted. Here we present a conceptualization of premature termination based on perceived and anticipated costs and benefits and review 6 practice strategies for reducing premature termination in therapy. These strategies include providing education about duration and patterns of change, providing role induction, incorporating client preferences, strengthening early hope, fostering the therapeutic alliance, and assessing and discussing treatment progress.

 

1. Help clients develop realistic expectations of treatment duration and recovery expectations at the beginning of treatment.

 

2. Utilize role induction prior to starting an intervention.

 

3. Pay attention to patient preferences, such as active versus passive therapist or whether homework will be assigned.

 

4. Instill a sense of hope that treatment will work

 

5. Foster the therapeutic alliance

 

6. Routinely monitor treatment outcomes.

 

Thanks to Ken Pope for this information.

 

The entire article can be found here.

Psychologist Carrie E. Schaffer suspended over sex with former patient

PsychCrime Database
Originally published August 11, 2012

On April 11, 2012, the Virginia Board of Psychology indefinitely suspended Carrie E. Schaffer, Ph.D.

According to the Board’s findings of fact, As of April 2011, Dr. Schaffer continued to be involved in an intimate and sexual relationship with a former client, which was the subject of an August 2010 Board Consent Order.

The entire information is here.

New generation of virtual humans helping to train psychologists

American Psychological Association Press Release
Originally published August 3, 2012

New technology has led to the creation of virtual humans who can interact with therapists via a computer screen and realistically mimic the symptoms of a patient with clinical psychological disorders, according to new research presented at the American Psychological Association’s 120^th Annual Convention.

“As this technology continues to improve, it will have a significant impact on how clinical training is conducted in psychology and medicine,” said psychologist and virtual reality technology expert Albert “Skip” Rizzo, PhD, who demonstrated recent advancements in virtual reality for use in psychology.

Virtual humans can now be highly interactive, artificially intelligent and capable of carrying on a conversation with real humans, according to Rizzo, a research scientist at the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies. “This has set the stage for the ‘birth’ of intelligent virtual humans to be used in clinical training settings,” he said.

Rizzo showed videos of clinical psychiatry trainees engaging with virtual patients called “Justin” and “Justina.” Justin is a 16-year-old with a conduct disorder who is being forced by his family to participate in therapy. Justina, the second and more advanced iteration of this technology, is a sexual assault victim who was designed to have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The entire press release is here.

Psychologist pimped hookers, police allege

By Elizabeth Dinan
Seacoastonline.com
Originally posted August 5, 2012

A clinical psychologist, with a private practice in Exeter, is wanted by police on a warrant alleging he operated a prostitution business out of a Portsmouth apartment.

Police announced Saturday that Alexander Marino, 38, of 565 #4 Sagamore Ave., Portsmouth, is wanted for a misdemeanor count of prostitution that alleges he knowingly allowed his apartment to be used for prostitution, and that he benefited financially from the sale of sex.

The entire story is here.

Thanks to Ken Pope for this story.

N.C. psychologist admits to $63 million Medicare, Medicaid fraud

By Jaime L. Brockway
IFAwebnews.com
Originally published on July 24, 2012

An Asheville, N.C., psychologist pleaded guilty earlier this month in Miami district court to submitting more than $63 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid in Miami, Fla., and Hendersonville, N.C.

Serena Joslin, 31, admitted to participating in a fraud scheme operated through Health Care Solutions Network (HCSN), which operated partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), or intensive mental health treatments for severe mental illness, in Miami and Hendersonville.

The entire story is here.

Violence risk instruments overpredicting danger

By Karen Franklin
forensic psychologistblogspot.com
Originally posted August 2, 2012

Here is an excerpt:

Bottom line: Risk assessment instruments are fairly good at identifying low risk individuals, but their high rates of false positives -- people falsely flagged as recidivists -- make them inappropriate “as sole determinants of detention, sentencing, and release.”

In all, about four out of ten of those individuals judged to be at moderate to high risk of future violence went on to violently offend. Prediction of sexual reoffense was even poorer, with less than one out of four of those judged to be at moderate to high risk going on to sexually offend. In samples with lower base rates, the researchers pointed out, predictive accuracy will be even poorer.

The entire story is here.

Thanks to Gary Schoener for this information.