This book provides a concise introduction to the increasingly important field of forensic mental health. It aims to set out both the key concepts in forensic mental health as well as the way the discipline operates in the broader context of criminal justice and mental health care systems. It will provide an ideal introduction to the subject for students taking courses in universities and elsewhere, for mental health practitioners in the early stages of their careers, and for professionals from other agencies needing an informed and up-to-date account of forensic mental health.

This book provides a concise introduction to the increasingly important field of forensic mental health. It aims to set out both the key concepts in forensic mental health as well as the way the discipline operates in the broader context of criminal justice and mental health care systems. It will provide an ideal introduction to the subject for students taking courses in universities and elsewhere, for mental health practitioners in the early stages of their careers, and for professionals from other agencies needing an informed and up-to-date account of forensic mental health.

This text provides a comprehensive overview of psychological approaches to understanding addictions. Without denying the importance of biological Factors, Emphasis Is Placed More Upon Social, Psychological And Emotional factors as is necessary to a complete understanding of addiction. Within this framework, an addiction is not limited to substance-based behaviours such as drinking alcohol, smoking or drug use. Although these important areas are covered, a wider perspective is taken to include behavioural addictions such as gambling, violence and joy riding. Finally, prevention approaches are discussed with reference to the public health model which encompasses issues relating to the agent, the host and the environment. A list of resources and references is provided for those wishing to obtain further information.; Written in a jargon-free style, "The Psychology of Addiction" is aimed at students at the beginning of their courses. It should also be a valuable resource for professionals: nurses, social workers, police and probation officers and medical students, who often encounter the problems described in the book.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203401476

Produced in response to the growing international demand for information, this book details the latest research in understanding and controlling violent and sexual offences. Increasing numbers of psychologists are now studying and working with offenders to the advancement of forensic psychology.
Chapters cover contributions from ten different countries and are grouped into three sections dealing with risk assessment, sex offenders and offences and violent offenders and offences. The first section discusses the progress that has been made towards making accurate decisions about the risk that an individual poses to the community and emphasises the need to draw on both clinical experience and research.
The second section explores understandings and investigations of sexual offences including discussion on: American commitment laws for sexually violent predators; the status of "recovered memories" in criminal trials; factors influencing delays in reporting sexual abuse; a model of rapists' accounts of their offences; and situational factors in sexual offending.
The final section on violent offenders and offences includes discussion on: criminal careers; domestic violence; mutiliation-murder in Japan; offender profiling; and sentencing of homicide cases.
This book will be of interest to scholars in criminology, psychology and forensic psychiatry and to policy-makers and practitioners who deal with sexual and violent offences.

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Sixty-three proceedings papers from researchers in Europe, North America, and Australasia, assess the psychological implications of legal systems and prisons. The presentations review factors involving eyewitness testimony credibility and misinformation, techniques in suspect and victim interviewing