Forensic Evaluation
Dr. Patterson provides psychological assessments to assist attorneys, legal decision-makers, and private entities with criminal and civil matters. Including:
- Competence to Stand Trial: Following the Dusky Standard, Dr. Patterson provides assessment for the presence of a mental disease or defect, and a thorough explanation of the relationship between the mental disease or defect and the defendant’s ability to factually and rationally understand the legal proceedings and assist in his/her own defense.
- Diminished Capacity: Assessment for the presence of a mental disease or defect, and a thorough explanation of the relationship between the mental disease or defect and the defendant’s ability to form the requisite mental state.
- NGRI: Assessment for the presence of a mental disease or defect, and a thorough explanation of the relationship between the mental disease or defect and the defendant’s ability to appreciate the nature of his/her actions and/or their wrongfulness.
- Mitigation: Thorough psychological assessments to help the Court understand factors influencing the defendant’s judgment, perception, or intent in committing the offense. These assessments are often useful in the plea negotiation and/or sentencing process.
- Risk/Dangerousness: Comprehensive evaluations of future dangerousness using empirically-validated assessment instruments. These evaluations can assist attorneys and legal decision-makers with issues related to conditional release, mitigation, and court-ordered treatment.
- Parental Capacity: Evaluations of parental fitness to help the court make decisions in the best interests of children. These assessments incorporate information from client interview, parent-child observation, collateral sources, and empirically-validated testing instruments.
- Personal Injury/IME: Personal injury and independent medical examinations to determine the nature and extent of psychological factors involved in a work-related injury and/or the claimant’s ability to perform essential work tasks.
- Pre-Employment and Fitness for Duty: Assessments using empirically-validated testing instruments to provide information about psychological “fit” to high-risk occupations or ability to return to work after a leave of absence related to mental health factors.
- Civil Commitment: Independent evaluations to determine the presence or absence of factors (substantial risk, grave disability) that justify involuntary hospitalization.
Consultation
Dr. Patterson provides thorough and timely consultation to attorneys, organizations, and private entities. He draws on the scientific literature and his professional experience to help inform and guide stakeholders related to mental health diagnoses, treatment, psychological theories and concepts, and any issue pertaining to the intersection of psychology and law.
Expert Testimony
Dr. Patterson provides objective and scientifically-based testimony to help legal decision-makers during the adjudicative process. He has testified in criminal and civil matters and is recognized as an expert in multiple jurisdictions throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Clinical Assessment
Dr. Patterson provides comprehensive psychological assessments of adults, adolescents, and children to aid with diagnosis and treatment. Including:
- Intellectual/Cognitive: Comprehensive assessments of adults and children using measures of IQ, memory, attention, and academic achievement (among others). These assessments aid in the diagnosis of intellectual, cognitive and/or learning disorders and help to identify strengths weaknesses to aid with occupational and educational planning.
- Personality and Psychopathology: Assessments of adults and children using appropriate measures of emotional and behavioral functioning to help aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Substance Use: Assessments for the presence of substance use disorders and risk of relapse. These evaluations can aid in treatment planning as well as medical questions related to treatment suitability (e.g., organ transplant).
- Pre-Surgery and Other Health-Related Assessments: Thorough psychological assessments of individuals whose medical treatment involves a psychological component. Examples include bariatric surgery, organ transplant, and antiviral treatment for hepatitis C, among others. Utilizes empirically-validated psychological measures appropriate to the referral question.