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The University Institute for Psychiatry & Law, a division of Psychiatric Professional Services, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, formally came into existence in April, 1997 with the hiring of Paul A. Nidich as its Executive Director. The idea for the Institute developed from the interest of a number of psychiatrists in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine to get involved with "forensic psychiatry," a growing field of aca-demic, research, and practice interests.
Headed by James R. Hillard, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry and CEO of UC Medical Associates, the University's multispecialty practice group, a number of psychiatrists set about hiring an Executive Director to help bring this concept to fruition. Soon after the arrival of Mr. Nidich, an attorney for 23 years, admitted to practice in both Kentucky and Ohio, the Institute developed a statement of Mission, Vision, and Values, focusing on teaching, research, and practice and dedicating the Institute to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in all aspects of its work.
The faculty includes six psychiatrists, a neuro-psychologist, and an attorney. The psychiatrists are: Dr. Hillard; Dr. David L. Corwin, director of the Childhood Trust and former chair of the group that founded the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children; Drs. Paul E. Keck, Jr. and Susan L. McElroy, known nation-wide for their expertise in research psychopharmacology, impulse control disorders, product liability, and other fields of psychiatry; Dr. Daniel R. Wilson, an expert in anthropological psychiatry, informed consent, and family law matters; and Dr. Rodgers M. Wilson, an expert on criminal restoration to competency and insanity matters. Rodgers Wilson also serves as the Medical Director of the Institute. The neuropsychologist is Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., Director of the Psychology Division and the Cognitive Disorders Center, and the attorney, Mr. Nidich, focuses on teaching legal aspects of psychiatry to faculty, fellows, and residents in the Department.
Shortly thereafter, the Institute became associated with Earl G. Siegel, Pharm.D., Asso-ciate Director of the Drug & Poison Information Center, and E. Don Nelson, Pharm.D., Professor of Pharmacology. This association has allowed the institute to expand its services to a whole range of toxicological issues involved in forensic sciences. The Institute is also able to acquire the services of other qualified medical professionals when required by its experts or its clients.
Faculty members of the Institute provide con-sultation to attorneys, businesses, and organ-izations. Faculty members of the Institute are involved in research studies involving the devel-opment of forensic assessment tools for sex offenders and psychiatric patients involved in the legal system. The Institute is also involved in areas of child and domestic trauma surveys, judicial surveys, NGRI studies, psychiatric practice boundary violation studies, malpractice, and restoration to competency assessment tools studies. An Institute goal is to perform investi-gations and studies which will lessen or prevent psychological injury to individuals, improve security and safety, and provide for better treatments and outcomes.
The Institute is located at the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Cincinnati Col-lege of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, but faculty have been involved in forensic matters from New Hampshire to California. For more infor-mation about the Institute or to seek the services of a forensic expert, contact Paul Nidich, J.D., Executive Director, University Institute for Psychiatry & Law, 231 Bethesda Avenue, P.O. Box 0559, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0559; Tel: (513) 558-3990; e-mail: nidichpa@email.us.edu.
The Advocate, Vol. 20, No. 2 (March 1998)