Forensic Psychology and Neuropsychology Services
A Psychological Professional Corporation
Civil Forensic Evaluation
Civil forensic evaluations in the context of psychological injury and law are crucial in many legal cases. These evaluations help determine the psychological impact of events such as accidents, workplace incidents, or other traumatic experiences. Here are some key components typically involved in such evaluations:
Assesment of Psychological Injury
This involves diagnosing any mental health conditions that may have resulted from the incident, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
Causation Analysis
Evaluators determine whether a specific incident or event is considered the primary (direct) cause of a person's psychiatric injuries (emotional suffering).
Functional Impairment
Prognosis
Treatment Recommendations
Assessing how the psychological injury affects the individual's ability to function in daily life, including work and personal relationships.
Providing an opinion on the likely course and duration of the psychological injury.
Suggesting appropriate therapeutic interventions or treatments that may help the individual recover.
Legal Standards
Understanding and applying relevant legal standards and criteria, such as those related to competency, disability, or damages.
Objective Testing
Utilizing standardized psychological tests to provide objective data supporting the evaluation.
Expert Testimony
The evaluator may be required to present their findings in court and provide expert testimony.
Personal Injury
Evaluations related to accidents, medical malpractice, or other incidents causing physical and psychological harm.
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Notable Cases and Legal Principles
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Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (1928): Established the principle of foreseeability in negligence cases.
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Caparo Industries plc v Dickman (1990): Established a three-part test for duty of care in negligence cases: foreseeability of harm, proximity of relationship, and whether it is fair, just, and reasonable to impose a duty.
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Donoghue v Stevenson (1932): Established the modern concept of negligence, laying the foundation for the duty of care principle.
Employment LAW
Employment law encompasses a wide range of issues related to the workplace, including harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, and work-related stress. Work-related stress claims can arise under workers' compensation laws or as part of claims for harassment, discrimination, or wrongful termination.
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Notable Cases:
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Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc. (1999): This case addressed the issue of whether work-related stress and other conditions could be considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Supreme Court held that mitigating measures should be considered in determining whether an individual has a disability.
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Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc. (1993): This case involved a hostile work environment claim where the Supreme Court held that psychological harm is not required to prove a hostile work environment; it is enough to show that the environment was hostile or abusive.
Disability Claim
Disability claims involve seeking benefits or accommodations due to a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities. These claims can arise in various contexts, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), workers' compensation, and employment discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Psychological evaluations are integral to the SSDI claims process as they provide objective evidence of a claimant's mental health condition.
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Notable Cases:
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Richardson v. Perales (1971): The Supreme Court held that written medical reports by examining physicians can constitute substantial evidence in disability determinations, even if the claimant does not have the opportunity to cross-examine the physicians.
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Sullivan v. Zebley (1990): The Supreme Court ruled that the SSA's regulations for evaluating childhood disability claims were too restrictive and inconsistent with the Social Security Act, leading to changes in how childhood disability claims are assessed.
Forensic Psychological Assessment
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) is the latest version of the MMPI series, released in 2020. It builds upon the previous versions (MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF) with updates to improve its psychometric properties, relevance, and applicability in contemporary settings. In legal cases, the MMPI can provide valuable insights into an individual's psychological state, which can be relevant for competency evaluations, custody disputes, and criminal cases, among other applications. It is important to note that while the MMPI can offer significant information, it is typically used in conjunction with other assessments and evidence to form a comprehensive understanding of an individual's mental health. For example, MMPI can be used to evaluate the psychological impact of injuries and the credibility of reported symptoms.
The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a psychological test designed to assess various aspects of a person's personality and psychopathology. It is commonly used in clinical settings to diagnose mental health conditions, plan treatment, and assess the effectiveness of interventions.
The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) is a brief, reliable measure of cognitive ability designed for individuals aged 6 to 89 years. It is often used for screening purposes, research, and clinical assessments where a quick estimate of intelligence is needed.
The Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) is a comprehensive neuropsychological test designed to assess various aspects of memory functioning in individuals aged 16 to 90 years. It is widely used in clinical settings to evaluate memory deficits, diagnose memory-related disorders, and plan treatment. The WMS has undergone several revisions, with the most recent version being the WMS-IV.
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We provide quality of forensic psychological services
Dr. Chu has developed a robust and refined set of clinical and forensic skills, having served as a clinical and forensic practitioner for over nine years, leading cases ranging from personal injury to workers's compensation. She also has experience conducting complex depositions and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Dr. Chu completed her three-year medical psychology residency program at the Ibemed/Healthpointe Medical Clinics, where she specialized in the treatment of neurological conditions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and pain management. She was directly supervised by Levon Margolin Ph.D., MSCP, ABMP, Q.M.E. (qualified medical evaluator/medical legal expert), who obtained board certification in medical psychology from the American Board of Medical Psychology (ABMP). During her residency program, she collaborated closely with qualified medical examiners, including neurosurgeons, chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, and neurologists, to provide integrated behavioral medicine services to patients with severe neuropsychological conditions. She has been actively involved in the Functional Restoration Programs at Ibemed/Healthpointe Medical Clinics and Serenity Healthcare Partners, helping patients recover from psychological trauma and reducing their pain and suffering.
​Dr. Chu was further trained for over three years by Dr. L. Scott Frazier, Ph.D., QME., who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Oxford (she worked as a psychological associate). Dr. Chu’s instruction included MMPI interpretation (analyzing various scales to understand the clinical symptoms, personality characteristics, and behavioral tendencies of the test taker) and relying on validity (detecting overreporting and underreporting) and clinical scales of the MMPI to measure specific psychological traits and potential disorders (providing insights into the clinical significance of each scale).
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She has been a guest lecturer for the Counseling and School Psychology Graduate Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston on topics related to trauma care, including PTSD with comorbidities in forensic patients.