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Assessment of Mental Disorders in Custody Evaluations

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Handbook of Child Custody

Abstract

This chapter reviews practice guidelines, research, and controversies pertaining to the evaluation of parental psychopathology in custody evaluations. The roles and relevance of various forms of data collection are discussed, including commonly used tests, types of records reviewed, interview and observational data, and collateral contacts. When mental illness is identified, four important considerations are discussed to assist the evaluator in considering its manageability and potential for adverse impact on parenting. Eight desirable parenting attributes are identified for considering whether and how parental psychopathology may impact the meeting of a child’s needs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1826 Bull St, 29201, Columbia, SC, USA

    Allison M. Foster PhD

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  1. Allison M. Foster PhD
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Correspondence to Allison M. Foster PhD .

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  1. Northbrook, IL, USA

    Mark L. Goldstein

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Foster, A. (2016). Assessment of Mental Disorders in Custody Evaluations. In: Goldstein, M. (eds) Handbook of Child Custody. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13942-5_13

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