Adolescent Psychological Development

The focus of this chapter will be to try to develop some useful answers to the following questions: What does the forensic psychiatrist need to know about normal adolescent psychological development and about adolescent psychiatry and psychopathology to be able effectively to make an informed assessment of psychopathology in the adolescent who is brought to his or her attention in the court, hospital, or detention center setting; and to make an informed treatment recommendation for the adolescent in trouble seen in those same settings?