Psychological Examination Research Articles

FORENSIC HANDWRITING ANALYSIS ENABLES THE DETECTION OF DEMENTIA CASES

In many cases, legal psychological expertise includes the evaluation of the cognitive state of a person. In particular, that relates to the cognitive impairment due to dementia. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. There are multiple biomarkers and neurological diagnostic procedures, however, they are often not applicable in the legal context. Handwriting analysis is a potential method for early detection of the onset of the disease. It allows the investigation of current specimens as well as documents from the past, which is especially important for forensic. In the article we present an instrument for screening of possible AD (AD-HS) by handwriting. It includes 40 handwriting and 2 linguistic markers. Their cumulative assessment allows the evaluation of a quantitative AD Indicator (ADI), which reflects the severity level of impairment. The presented validation study includes 48 persons with the AD diagnosis and the control group of 182 handwriting specimens from the database of the HSDetect system for handwriting analysis. The mean value for ADI in the control group equals 0.26 and the 95% level lies at 0.46. All participants have higher ADI value with an average value of 0.46. Besides, the correlation between ADI and the severity of AD was 0.64. That is, AD-HS allows the evaluation of AD severity. The presented approach provides a practical instrument for forensics and criminal expertise. Further refinement of AD-HS and the extension of the experiment data will allow even more reliable screening of cognitive impairment through handwriting. Keywords: forensic psychological examination, Alzheimer's disease, indicator of Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment in handwriting, dementia.

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND ADAPTATION OF THE ARMENIAN VERSION OF THE MILLER FORENSIC ASSESSMENT OF SYMPTOMSTEST (M-FAST) / Միլլերրի սիպտոմների գնահատման դատահոգեբանական թեստի (m-fast) հայերեն լեզվով տեղայնացումը և փսիխոմետրիկ հատկությունները

The process of forensic psychological examination, to assess various issues, requires the use of psychological tests that have passed and meet the requirements for foreign language tests for adaptation and reliability. The Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test(M-FAST) is a validated screening test for identifying malingered mental illness. The objective of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate the M-FAST into Armenian language. 54 psychiatric patients and 54 simulator participants drawn from the Republic of Armenia were tested with an Armenian version of M-FAST. The Armenian M-Fast Total and Subscale scores were comparable to the original version with adequate-to-high internal consistency. M-FAST total scores were significantly higher in the simulator group (M = 12.83) than psychiatric patients (M = 6.83) [d = 1.46]. Results provide evidence that the Armenian translation of the M-FAST is comprehensible to both test-taker and test-administrator and represents promising screening measure.

Применение методики «Родительское сочинение» в целях установления родительского отношения при проведении судебной психологической экспертизы по спорам, связанным с воспитанием детей

The article presents examination data of parental essays’ application in a forensic psychological examination in family disputes. There were 60 participants in the experimental group undergoing an examination in court in determining the child’s place of residence оr the order of meetings with a separately living parent (30 women aged 25 to 43 years and 30 men aged 28 to 62 years), the control group — 60 parents (30 women aged 27 to 45 and 30 men aged 31 to up to 60 years old). 18 mothers and 8 fathers of the experimental group were living together with the child during the study period. The study demonstrates the information content of the “parental essay” in the context of a forensic psychological examination of parents. The greatest differences were revealed in terms of the justification of negative traits; unfavorable attitude to thoughts, feelings, hobbies; treating the child as an equal; denial of the rights of the child, dominance, underestimation of his age; feeling of resonance, unity; good knowledge of the child.

On the differential diagnostic prospects of determining the profile of the lateral organization of the personality during assessment of the systematic alcohol abuse

The article is devoted to the question of the possible improvement of the psychological examination of persons previously examined in alcoholic intoxication (hereinafter—PEAI). The authors propose an original view on the definition of the target of «alcohol screening», the principles and methods of assessing psychological markers of the systematic substance abuse. Purpose of the study: to determine the differential diagnostic significance of identifying the profile of the lateral organization (hereinafter—PLO) when assessing of the systematic of alcohol abuse in those previously examined in a state of alcoholic intoxication. The researchers made an attempt to highlight the features of PLO of such a «risk group» as those previously examined in a state of alcoholic intoxication (based on data obtained during the study according to the typology of E.D. Khomskaya (with a combination of three types of asymmetries: manual, auditory-verbal and visual) of lateral preferences of 19 PEAI patients of the branch of the Moscow Research and Practical Center for Narcology). As a result, the tendency of those previously examined in the state of intoxication to the lack of a «leading ear» and «leading eye», significant differences in the distribution of the attribute «leading hand» among those previously examined in a state of alcoholic intoxication and in the population were revealed. Conclusion. According to the results of this study, it is difficult to assume the presence of a significant differential diagnostic significance of PLO detection during «alcohol screening» among those previously examined in a state of alcoholic intoxication. At the same time, it should be noted that taking into account lateral preferences can contribute to the improvement of preventive work programs in the narcological service, providing greater individualization of psychological support measures. Directly in the rehabilitation work with PEAI, it is advisable to actively apply social and psychological training (because of a significant part of the contingent among the main factors of relapse with a high degree of probability has social stressors). The creation of short-term (3-5 meetings) programs of group exercises of a preventive orientation, which have different targets depending on the «vulnerability factors» of the owners of certain lateral profiles, also seems justified.

Analysis of expert practice on the issues of determining the place of residence of a child

In order to study the quantitative and qualitative features of complex psychological and psychiatric examinations on family disputes about the upbringing of children, the conclusions of the commission of experts of the Central Clinical Psychiatric Hospital of the Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region, conducted from 2016 to 2020, were analyzed. The clinical and psychopathological features of the subexperts are determined, as well as a number of problems associated with conducting such examinations: objective complexity, a large range of expert questions, ambiguity in the interpretation of the main expert concepts.

Specifics of Forensic Psychology Analysis of Psychological Abuse

The article discusses issues related to psychological violence and identifying the features of conductingforensic psychological examinations in order to establish the fact of psychological violence. Particular attention is paid to the interpretation of the concepts: psychological violence, psychological impact, psychological pressure, emotional violence, verbal aggression, coercion. The article highlights and describes the characteristic features of forensic psychological examination of psychological abuse victims.
 This article purpose is to identify the key features of the forensic psychology examination of psychological abuse victims. The main research content allows us to list the characteristic features of forensic psychology analysis.
 In most cases, the issues related to the forensic psychology analysis of violent actions refer to sexual or physical violence or are aimed at explaining the actions of various forms of violence on the human psyche. These circumstances lead to the fact that human psyche begins to play secondary role while performing forensic research. It is for this reason that forensic psychology analysis of psychological abuse in general and its types in particular is referred to as non-traditional types of examination. Various types of violent actions in different ways affect the human psyche and the secondary nature of the examination does not always reveal the essence and results of psychological abuse that unjustifiably narrows the real scope of manifestations of violence in society.
 The authors defend the opinion that at this stage it is more correct to conduct a psychological examination aimed specifically at psychological violence and not at the secondary effect of violence on the psyche. In this regard, the article proposes necessary definitions that can be used in the conduct of forensic psychological and forensic linguistic expert research.
 Considering importance of conducting examinations to establish existence or lack of the psychological violence fact, it is planned to continue research to develop criteria for assessing results of forensic psychology analysis of psychological abuse.

98 Takotsubo syndrome in COVID-19 era: is psycological distress the key?

Covid-19 pandemic, starting from Wuhan, China has spread all over the word and Italy was one of the most affected countries, especially in Lombardy, where, on 20 February the first case was confirmed. Italian Government ordered a national lockdown on the 9 March 2020, forcing the population to severe restrictive isolation measures. The burden on mental health of the medical emergency related to COVID-19 is progressively been revealed. Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), is estimated to represent 1–3% of patients admitted with suspected STEMI, mostly affecting elderly women with emotional stress and/or acute illness preceding the presentation. Comparing patients hospitalized from February to May 2020 with those of the corresponding period in 2019 we observed a significantly increased number of TTS diagnosis in 2020 (11 patients in 2020 vs. 3 in 2019), especially during the first period of lockdown. The only two males were patients with COVID-19 and were the only two who died in hospital. At psychological examination all patients enrolled report to have lived a particularly stressful experience at IES-R in the last year, without presenting the symptoms of a post-traumatic stress disorder. Most patients were positive to the allostatic overload. Only one patient showed a clinical cut-off for HADS and no one for the fear COVID-19 scale. We finally concluded that subjects with pre-pandemic psychological distress may have experienced additional psychological overload, opening the door to TTS by a series of physiological alterations as the secretion of cortisol and catecholamines, making the subject more vulnerable to the onset of TTS.

Reassessing Fitness-to-Drive in Drinker Drivers: The Role of Cognition and Personality.

Drunken driving is among the main challenges for road safety by causing worldwide motor-vehicle crashes with severe injuries and deaths. The reassessment of fitness-to-drive in drivers stopped for drunken driving includes mainly psychological examinations. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and the consistency of selected variables of different psychological driving-related dimensions (i.e., cognitive skills and personality) in discriminating 90 male drinker drivers (DD) from matched non-drinkers controls. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mental Rotation Test (MRT), and the Perspective-Taking Test (PT) were administered to assess overall cognitive functioning, and object- and self-based spatial transformation abilities, respectively. Participants completed a computerized test measuring resilience of attention (DT), reaction times (RT), and perceptual speed (ATAVT). The Personality Psychopathology Five scales (i.e., PSY-5: Aggressiveness-AGGR, Psychoticism-PSYC, Disconstraint-DISC, Negative-Emotionality-NEGE, and Introversion-INTR) the validity scale (L) and the dissimulation index (F-K) were scored from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). A logistic binomial regression analysis (backward subtraction method) was used to identify discriminant predictors. A prediction analysis (ROC curve method) was performed on the final model. Results showed that the scores obtained in MRT, DT, and the personality measures of PSYC, DISC, NEGE, and INTR significantly discriminated DD from their matched controls with moderate-to-good values of accuracy (0.79), sensitivity (0.80), and specificity (0.79), as well as a good AUC value (0.89). In some cases, the personality dimensions provided—reliable—unexpected results. Low scores of PSYC, NEGE, and INTR were found to predict the membership to the DD group; results are discussed with reference to response management. Personality measures should be assessed with particular attention in a forensic context because they are more prone to be feigned than cognitive ones. Overall, the present study confirmed the relevance of integrating different driving-related psychological dimensions in the evaluation of fitness-to-drive showing the usefulness of standardized tools for the reassessment of drinker drivers.

COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine-related health disorders in combatants of Ukraine

Here we expand the existing knowledge about disorders associated with the COVID-19-related pandemic and quarantine. We show that the COVID-19-related pandemic and quarantine can reduce the combat effectiveness of the military, provoking a deterioration in the health of combatants and requires hospitalization. Aim. Investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on the health of Ukrainian combatants. Material and methods. A study was conducted between March 12, 2020 and May 22, 2020 at the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, General and Medical Psychology, Narcology, and Sexology in Zaporizhzhia State Medical University and Zaporizhzhia military hospital (Ukraine). All combatants who were hospitalized during this period were examined. We analyzed medical records, anamnestic data, and performed psychopathological and psychological examinations of all patients. Results. In 56 % of combatants hospitalized during high quarantine measures, the cause of health disorders is negative COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine-related thoughts that provoke stress. These stressful thoughts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine provoke the development of hypertensive emergency (57 % vs 18 %), anxiety syndrome (29 %), dissociative [conversion] disorder (7 %), and exacerbate the negative effects of pre-pandemic diseases, namely, hypertension (43 % vs 27 %), somatoform autonomic dysfunction of the cardiovascular system (29 %), panic disorder [episodic paroxysmal anxiety] (7 %), adjustment disorders (7 %), post-traumatic stress disorder (7 %). Conclusions. Preventive measures need to be developed and applied to combatants to prevent their deteriorating health due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine stress

Research on the Application of Data Mining Technology in the Analysis of College Students’ Sports Psychology

The advent of the information age has changed every existing career and revolutionized most if not all fields, notwithstanding many benefits that came along with it. There has been an exponential rise in information and, alongside it, an increase in data. Data centers have erupted with details as the number of rows in databases grows by the day. The use of technology has nevertheless become essential in many company models and organizations, warranting its usage in virtually every channel. College physical education and sports are not an exception as students studying such subjects are skyrocketing. As the information is getting more complex, improved methods are needed to research and analyze data. Fortunately, data mining has come to the rescue. Data mining is a collection of analytical methods and procedures used exclusively for the sake of data extraction. It may be used to analyze features and trends from vast quantities of data. The objective of this study is to explore the use of data mining technologies in the analysis of college students’ sports psychology. This study uses clustering methods for the examination of sports psychology. We utilize three clustering methods for this aim: expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, k-means, COBWEB, density-based clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), and agglomerative hierarchal clustering algorithms. We perform our forecasts based on various metrics combined with the past outcomes of college sports using these methods. In contrast to conventional data research and analysis techniques, our approaches have relatively high prediction accuracy as far as college athletics is concerned.

Forensic Psychological Examination of Information Materials in the System of Scientific Knowledge

In the article, the author defines the place which a new direction of forensic psychological examination – the study of information materials – occupies in the system of forensic science and the general classification of forensic examinations. Comparison of the object, subject, tasks, and methods of the traditional forensic psychological analysis conducted on living persons and post-mortem examinations, and forensic psychological examination of information materials allows to consider them as generic within the subclass “Forensic psychological examination” in the system of the class “Forensic medical and psychological examinations”. The author maps out the interdisciplinary connections of the psychological examination of information materials and its interaction with various branches of psychological science. It is shown that the systematization of the internal and external scientific relations of the new kind (type) of forensic analysis allows a more comprehensive description of the content of a forensic expert’s specialized knowledge obtained during both diploma and postgraduate training and expert practice.

EFL Teachers' Optimism and Commitment and Their Contribution to Students' Academic Success.

The present review study determines to scrutinize EFL teachers' optimism and commitment and their contribution to students' academic success. Academic optimism, as a new construct, is evolving from the examination of the positive psychology (PP), societal principal, and communal school assets that affect the attainment and success of all learners. In addition, within the past decades, commitment has received a great level of consideration, principally in the domain of structural research. The straightforward perseverance of this review is to extend the concept of academic optimism to individuals, that is, to hypothesize theoretical optimism and approve the efficacy of this paradigm at the instructor level in relation to students' academic success. According to the literature review, the definitions of these constructs, namely teachers' optimism and commitment, and students' academic success, as well as empirical studies in this domain are presented. As a conclusion, this study, to some extent, promotes the educators' mindfulness about their commitment. In this respect, pedagogical implications for teachers, school principals, teacher-trainers, and future researchers are presented, and new guidelines for further research are determined.

Обеспечение безопасности органов внутренних дел в ходе профессионального психологического отбора на службу с помощью полиграфных устройств

the article discloses the main results of the study, describing the dependence of the presence of risk factors on the personal characteristics of candidates for service in the internal affairs bodies in the process of conducting a special psychophysiological study using a polygraph.
 The main conclusions in this study were obtained using comparative, qualitative, correlation and frequency analyses, which is confirmed by the existence of numerous relationships of personal characteristics, according to which the presence or absence of risk factors can be predicted. This empirical study has made it possible to draw up a table of the distribution of specific gravity and a formula according to which an employee working with printing devices can calculate the probability of identifying a risk factor in each candidate for service in the internal affairs bodies on the basis of a psychological examination. The obtained data on the results of the methods used, describing various aspects of the external manifestations of a person, were presented by groups, in matrix form and analyzed by a number of indicators such as: the risk factor was not identified, the risk factor was identified, and in groups where the result was not determined, but there is a suspicion of the presence of a risk factor. Data were compared with intergroup measures of personality traits. Analysis of personality characteristics showed that in a sample of candidates for service, the most important of the suitability markers correlate with personal features. An employee working with printing devices at the stage of familiarization with the candidate's questionnaire, analyzing his personal and business qualities, can predict, with a high degree of probability, the identification of risk factors, even before the start of the study using a polygraph, or the manifestation of various kinds of opposition, in order to hide the identification of risk factors.
 The use of this formula by psychologists and polygraphologists in professional psychological selection greatly contributes to ensuring the safety of internal affairs bodies at the stage of personnel screening, which is aimed at detecting and preventing emergency incidents among the personnel of internal affairs bodies and occupies a decisive role in forming a positive image of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Возможности использования интеллектуальных систем машинного зрения в судебной психологической экспертизе

The objective of this study is to develop and experimentally verify the expert method of non-contact psychological and physiological diagnostics of emotional and mental state of a person by measuring complex patterns of facial micro-movements beyond the conscious control
 of the person through the use of special software, as well as to determine the opportunities and limitations of using this method in forensic psychological examinations. The authors substantiate the prospects of unbiased methods for assessing a person’s emotional and mental state by measuring behavioural patterns using modern digital technologies. The paper identifies the key factors that determine the effectiveness of forensic psychological examination methods.
 The results of the study revealed both general regularities to distinguish patterns and their individual characteristics. However, there were no consistently repeated facial patterns that would allow differentiating the initial stimuli of emotional reactions. It was established that the essential factor subject to the evaluation through the analysis of facial expressions is the level of cognitive load, representing the weight of the situation for a certain person. By applying machine-learning method, the authors developed a technology of the binary classification of questions according to the degree of their subjective cognitive complexity based on the facial micro-­movements when a person answers the interview questions.
 The predictive model served as the basis for the development of a pilot version of the expert study method to assess the subjective cognitive complexity of the interview questions. The paper provides minimum technical requirements of “Systems of Psychological and Physiolo­gical Studies” software for the analysis of video footage in forensic psychological examination, including standardized requirements for recording an examined person’s facial expressions during the interview. The authors also developed the sequence of the expert’s actions. The paper includes the legal rationale for a new expert study method to be implemented.

ТАКТИКА ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ОБСЛЕДОВАНИЯ И ПСИХОТЕРАПИИ НАРУШЕНИЙ СНА В ПЕРИОД ПАНДЕМИИ COVID-19

Due to the high prevalence of sleep disorders during the second and third waves, the question of the relationship between the incidence of coronavirus, acute respiratory distress syndrome and sleep is still open. The article describes for the first time the specifics of the phenomenon of COVID-SOMNIA or covid-associated sleep disorders, which includes a spectrum of changes in sleep from insomnia, restless legs syndrome to behavior disorders during the REM sleep phase. Various effects of COVID-19 on sleep disorders in patients have been shown. Different infections have different effects on the mental state and on a person’s sleep — these are sleep disorders caused by viral load. Specific clinical and psychological manifestations of covid-associated sleep disorders are described. For the first time in Russia, a model of the relationship between covid-associated anxiety, insomnia and suicidal thinking is presented. The psychological factors influencing the occurrence of the phenomenon of COVID-somnia in patients are systematized. It is shown that the risks of developing insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic consist of the presence of a number of factors in the patient: tolerance to uncertainty, covid-associated anxiety, feelings of loneliness, the presence of symptoms of depression and anxiety earlier and at the moment. For clinical psychologists, the general tactics of psychological examination of an infected patient who has undergone COVID-19, who have post-ovoid syndrome in the presence of changes in the mental state and quality of sleep are described. In short, the protocols of remote cognitive behavioral therapy of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are based on a psychological model of health anxiety and hypochondria (somatosensory amlification). It is recommended that we use cognitive refocusing therapy for insomnia (cognitive refocusing treatment) and a protocol for short-term remote cognitive behavioral therapy of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in everyday clinical practice.

Features of forensic psychological examination in the investigation of criminal cases of crimes committed by minors

Features of forensic psychological examination in the investigation of criminal cases of crimes committed by minors

HMD-Based VR Tool for Traffic Psychological Examination: Conceptualization and Design Proposition

In the present theoretical paper, the current body of knowledge regarding the use of wearable virtual reality (VR) technologies for traffic psychological examination (TPE) is introduced, critically discussed and a specific application is suggested. The combination of wearable head-mounted displays for VR with an interactive and cost-effective haptic driving interface is emphasized as a valid and viable platform for a driving skills psychological assessment, which is in several aspects superior to standard TPE as well as driving simulators. For this purpose, existing psychological examination methods and psychological phenomena relevant in the process of driving are discussed together with VR technology’s properties and options. Special focus is dedicated to situation awareness as a crucial, but currently hardly measurable construct, where VR in combination with embedded eye-tracking (ET) technology represents a promising solution. Furthermore, the suitability and possibilities of these VR tools for valid traffic psychological examination are analyzed and discussed. Additionally, potentially desirable measures for driving assessment based on recent advances of VR are outlined and practical applications are suggested. The aim of this article is to bring together recent advances in TPE, VR and ET; revise previous relevant studies in the field; and to propose concept of the cost effective, mobile and expandable HMD-based driving simulator, which can be suitable for an ecologically valid driving assessment and follow-up TPE in common practice.

Стан соматичного та психічного здоров’я дітей із зони антитерористичної операції

Мета: оцінка стану соматичного та психічного здоров’я дітей шкільного віку із зони військових дій на сході України. Матеріали та методи. Проведено клініко-інструментальне обстеження 286 дітей віком 7–18 років, із них 209 — із зони антитерористичної операції та 77 дітей-переселенців із Донецької та Луганської областей. Групу порівняння становили 672 дитини того ж віку з Харківської області та м. Харкова. Для визначення особливостей порушень щодо психічного здоров’я у дітей проводилося клініко-психопатологічне дослідження з заповненням спеціальної анкети. Результати. Виявлено, що більшість дітей із зони військових дій на сході України і переселенців мали соматичні та психосоматичні скарги. Отримано дані щодо поліморфізму клінічних симптомів стосовно психопатологічних розладів у даного контингенту із переважанням у клінічній структурі астенії, емоційної лабільності, напруження, підвищеної розумової та фізичної втомлюваності, періодичного головного болю, запаморочень. Висновки. Визначено, що за частотою щодо більшості нозологічних форм стосовно соматичної та психіатричної патології відмінності між досліджуваною групою та популяційним контролем відсутні. Одним із пріоритетних напрямків збереження й укріплення здоров’я дітей за наявності воєнно-конфліктних ситуацій на сході України є необхідність розробки та активного впровадження в практику психопрофілактичних заходів щодо розладів адаптації.

Association Between Tic Aggravation and Methylphenidate in Youth With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the tic aggravation event rate and cumulative incidence rate in the use of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the factors that influence tic aggravation. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review of children and adolescents aged between 6 to 15 years, who were diagnosed with ADHD from January 2017 to December 2019. A total of 121 subjects were included. The MPH dosage, psychiatric family history, comorbidity and past history of tics were assessed through chart review and the psychological examinations data were included. Collected data were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. ResultsTic aggravation event rates without a past history of tics were 2.9% with MPH treatment in ADHD. Past history of tics, total MPH dosage and age were the factors associated with tic aggravation ([HR 21.46, p<0.001], [HR 0.94, p=0.023], [HR 0.79, p=0.021] for each). Cumulative incidence of tic aggravation was different between groups with or without past tic history. When treated with MPH, all tic aggravation appeared within approximately eight months but for subjects with a past history of tic, aggravation showed within approximately six months (p<0.001). ConclusionTic aggravation event rate was significantly low especially in the group without a past history of tics with the use of MPH in ADHD. However, a thorough assessment of past history of tics, and close monitoring during the first six-eight months of treatment with MPH is needed to avert a potential worsening of tics.

Ethical Models in the Double Relationship Physician-Patient when Establishing Child Custody in Parental Divorce and Separation with Intense Conflictuality: Different Concepts for Physician and for Psychologist?

"Introduction. Child custody judicial course usually are intense conflictual raising a lot of pressure both on adult parents as on children. Always require a forensic psychiatry set-up at the court request and a professional team, legal doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists of adult and children from the legal medicine institution and from the hospital. Children are carefully looked upon separately by psychologists in a special setu-up diregarding intruding and manipulation. Objective of this presentation is to identify ethical aspects of the relationship physician-patient (the adult parent and separate the child) and psychologist-patient (i.e. similar) in custody litigation. Material and methods. We have casuistry with a high diversity of parental alienation in child custody cases. Discussions: Does physicians (psychiatrist or legal doctor) and psychologists uses different ethical models and concepts to approache the adult parent or the child? Forensic psichiatry examinations are completed with psychiatry examination and psychology examination as much as documents examinations which are presented in the dossier. Social inquiry is very important. Conclusions: similar to physician-patient relationship in pediatry, psychologist-minor patient relationship is based on the same moral values and ethical principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, loialty, trust, mostly in a paternalistic model to sustain always the best interest of the child/children. Lack of autonomy of the minor child creates correlativity obligations to protect his rights and to sustain the best interests of the child as a primary consideration. Beneficence in forensic psychiatry may take into consideration maintaining also beneficial emotional relationships with both parents after the separation. "