John Delatorre, PsyD, a forensic psychologist, explains, I think the procedure for how these diagnoses, in particular the personality disorders, have been rendered is flawed. Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI | AFP | Getty Images, Best Online Doctorate in Psychology Programs, Best Online Masters & Doctorate Programs, Top Masters Degree Programs in Clinical Psychology, Differences Between Psychology and Psychiatry, https://istss.org/clinical-resources/assessing-trauma/clinician-administered-ptsd-scale-(caps-5), https://www.apadivisions.org/division-41/publications/newsletters/news/2014/10/expert-opinion, https://www.apa.org/science/programs/testing, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7278774/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805662/, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A psychologist for Johnny Depp's defense testified on Tuesday that ex wife Amber Heard may suffer from borderline personality disorder. She explains, "Since there are analyses of the trial on YouTube occurring each day, and sometimes during the trial itself, it might help the public become aware of such behaviors and what might cause such conditions if a professional or two were to discuss them.. And this can be a problem for psychologists who work with exclusively a specific demographic. First contacted by Depps lawyer Camille Vasquez, psychologist Shannon Curry testified that she based such assessments in part on two psychological tests administered on Heard and a pair of lengthy sessions that lasted a cumulative 12 hours. Education is imperative to make more people aware of the signs of mental illnesses and treatment options. Calling a person crazy adds to the stigma of people who are dealing with a mental illness. The DSM 5 has a specific list of symptoms for all of these diagnoses. A psychologist testifying as a witness in the Johnny Depp - Amber Heard defamation trial claimed that the Aquaman actress exhibits symptoms of both histrionic and borderline personality. Delatorre is a licensed psychologist in Arizona, Texas, and New York. Heard allegedly completed the test on her iPad, and Curry said that she interpreted the results on a 25-page outline. Rocchio LM. "I write this as a woman who had to change my phone number weekly because I was getting death threats. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. The lengthy court proceedings seem to beg the question: Are these salacious headlines raising awareness and helping to educate the public about mental health issues or harming those who actually have those diagnoses and are working hard to live productive lives? Psychologist Dawn Hughes also testified in court today that Johnny Depp allegedly tried to rape ex-wife Amber Heard and forcibly performed a cavity search on her. Ethical and professional considerations in the forensic assessment of complex trauma and dissociation. The Depp v. Heard case caused a stir on social media. Curry also testified that Heard does not suffer post-traumatic stress disorder from her relationship with Depp, as Heard has claimed. (Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP). Psychology.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. She has written in many publications including The Washington Post, Next Avenue, Forbes, The Fine Line and The Girlfriend. ", Actor Amber Heard speaks to her legal team in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, April 28, 2022. The Business of Mental Health Care Now: Can Corporations Solve the Problem? Testifying for Amber. Shocking stories about physical and mental abuse have dominated the media coverage of this case. She testified that she never saw Heard with any kind of bruises. TikTok Therapy: What Happens When Mental Health Struggles Go Viral? She testified about the observations she concluded when working with Amber Heard related to personality disorders. This may seem obvious, but it's easy to get overwhelmed and distracted by other details of the case, especially in a high profile one, and stray away from the objective. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, In a video shown in court, Johnny Depp is seen pacing in an elevator after a fight with Amber Heard on May 21, 2016. Depp is suing Heard, alleging she defamed him in an opinion column. Johnny Depp and Psychologist Shannon. A psychologist hired by lawyers for "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp testified on Tuesday at his defamation case against his former wife Amber Heard that she suffers from twin personality disorders. Curry, who is not boardcertified, said that BPD is "driven by an underlying fear of abandonment," so patients with this disorder "will make desperate attempts to prevent that fromhappening.". Evidence introduced earlier at the trial includes audio clips of Heard begging Depp not to leave, and to stay with her after he indicated a desire to break up or separate. Read more: Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information. Dr. Spiegel countered he did not break the rule because he was not making a definitive diagnosis and was just speculating. After being contacted by Johnny Depp's legal team in 2021 to review this case, Curry provided a psychological evaluation of Heard. A clinical psychologist hired to review Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's turbulent relationship told jurors the actress suffers from two personality disorders and 'grossly exaggerated' her PTSD after . Thats not typical of even somebody with the most disabling form of PTSD, she said. Instead, the client is usually an attorney. Forensic psychologist hired by Johnny Depp's legal team testifies about Amber Heard's mental health Matthew Barakat Falls church, va. The psychologist, Shannon Curry, was hired by Depp's legal team. "When Mr. Depp was drunk or high, he'd throw her on the bed, rip off her nightgown, and try to have sex with her. "Personality is the way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes a person different from other people. There are ten personality disorders, which are defined by affecting at least two of the following areas: the way we think about ourselves, the way we respond emotionally, the way we relate to others or the way we control ourbehavior. A clinical and forensic psychologist testifying on behalf of Johnny Depp, Curry sent out shockwaves when she told jurors on Tuesday that she believed Amber Heard had borderline . Curry reviewed case documents, medical records, mental. You should also consider the demographic of its normative sample, when the test was created, and who it was designed for. Theyll exaggerate it, and theyll explode. His reporting on the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell was featured on the Starz and Channel 4 documentary "Who Is Ghislaine Maxwell?" Even professional forensic psychologists with years of experience can make lapses in judgment. The trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp continues its course. Then Ms Bredehofts line of questioning focused on Dr Currys interview at Mr Depps house by his legal team, prior to the trial. "Based on our specialty guidelines as forensic psychologists, we do not conduct standardized assessmentsWe are presented with a psycholegal question to answer and base [evaluations] on clinical interview documents that we've obtained and collateral interviews that we've conducted," Delatorre says. While routines can make you more efficient, they don't necessarily encourage critical thinking. Both diagnoses appear back-to-back among Cluster B Personality Disorders listed in the American Psychiatric Associations most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the DSM-5. Histrionic personality disorder, Curry said, is associated with drama and shallowness, and a need to be the center of attention. In fact, to meet the criteria for PTSD, symptoms only need to last about one month. While there is no specific time frame for diagnosing these disorders, it would be rare to come to this type of conclusion as rapidly as Curry does. Good habits start early: Identifying and managing potential bias in forensic evaluations as an early career forensic psychologist. The defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard went into Day 9 on Tuesday in Virginia, where Dr. Shannon Curry was called to the stand to testify for Team Depp. Its important to remember that neither Heard nor Depp, has been diagnosed with any of these mental health conditions. She spoke about PTSD, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, anxiety, emotional reactivity, and more during her testimony. Since the key question of the case was whether or not Heard was abused by Depp not whether or not she had other mental health issues there's reason to question the relevance of some of the mental assessments performed in this case. In reaching these diagnoses, Curry relied in part on a test she administered called the MMPI-2, a set of 567 questions that are short for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. This exercise may even dissuade you from continuing with your current approach, and potentially, lead you in a direction that is more appropriate for the subject. The psychologist, Dr. Shannon Curry, was hired by Depp's legal team. Heards attorneys say Depp physically and sexually abused her and that Depps denials lack merit because he was often drunk and high to the point of blacking out. An individuals personality is influenced by experiences, environment (surroundings, life situations) and inherited characteristics. WATCH ABOVE: The psychologist, Shannon Curry, was hired by Depps legal team to diagnose Amber Heard during 12 hours of interviews and from reviewing her mental-health records. When asked whether she believes Dr Hughes testimony that Ms Heards PTSD was triggered, she replied: I would say it cant be triggered if PTSD isnt present., Dr Shannon Curry (R) appeared in court as Dr Dawn Hughes (L) testified earlier this month. Please read our Commenting Policy first. [Updated 2021 Oct 1]. Dr Curry affirmed she was not board-certified and that she has never testified about violence between partners previously. On cross-examination, Curry acknowledged that she is not board certified and that she was retained after dinner and drinks with Depps legal team at his home. He has advanced training in forensic psychology and treats patients with severe mental illness, significant trauma histories, and personality disorders. And those desperate attempts could be physical aggression, it could be threatening, it could be harming themselves, but these are behaviors that are very extreme and very concerning to the people around them.. They engage in self-harming behaviors because they feel so empty inside that creating some type of physical pain allows them to overpower their mental capacity that distracts from the emotional pain that they are feeling. RELATED: The Assassination Of Amber Heard I also watched a video that Heard took of Depp yelling . It is always wise to direct ourselves and others to mental health professionals to clarify any doubts and understand appropriate usage of these terminologies in our personal and professional lives.. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. According to the American Psychiatric AssociationsDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5),BPD is diagnosed on the basis of a "pervasive" pattern of instability relating to interpersonal relationships and self-image as well as impulsivity that begins by early adulthood, with the diagnostic manual noting patients need to meet criteria for at least 5 symptoms. Scary Movies: Can They Actually Be Good for Anxiety? A histrionic personality disorder is categorized within the Cluster B of personality disorders. Shannon Curry, PsyD, MSCP, a forensic psychologist hired by Depp's legal team, stated that she believes Heard has borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. Borderline personality is a disease of instability, she said driven by an underlying fear of abandonment. She said people with the disorder will make desperate attempts to prevent that from happening.. Topics in this article. Legal Statement. Brendan Smialowski / AP. Martinez MA. More likely, it means that your mental set is distorting your evaluation. Ever since the defamation trial started on April 12, Depp stans have been aggressively hyping him up on social media. First, the military veterans made up the normative sample that helped establish the CAPS-5. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. KEY POINTS. Depp, who claims that he is the victim of domestic abuse, alleges that Heard fabricated that story when it became clear that he wanted to divorce her. She explains, "The pandemic, climate change, inflation, mass shootings, the war in Ukraine, lack of baby formula, etc., are creating anxiety or depression in the general population. Both Depp and Amber Heard have continually testified in the defamation case. Forensic psychologist Shannon Curry, who was hired by actor Johnny Depps legal team, testified this Tuesday in the civil lawsuit between Depp and his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, that she diagnosed the 36 year-old with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and histrionic personality disorder, according to a recent Timereport. And there were also pretty significant indications that she was grossly exaggerating symptoms of PTSD when asked about them.. Hopefully, coverage of the trial will encourage people to seek more nuanced information about mental health disorders from reputable sources. A wide range of mental health issues have also been a big part of this legal battle. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, I would say it cant be triggered if PTSD isnt present, Dr Shannon Curry told the court, regarding Heards diagnosis, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Amber Heards PTSD diagnosis was refuted in court by Dr Shannon Curry on Wednesday (25 May). When mental health expertshired by legal teamsexplain behavior through speculation, it weaponizes mental illness and harms those that live with it. People who experience BPD feel emotions intensely and for extended periods, and it is harder for themto return to a stable baselineafter an emotionally triggering event.. Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Shannon Curry took the witness stand and testified that she diagnosed . Dr. Shannon Curry, a clinical and forensic psychologist, testified about her evaluations Tuesday after being asked by Depp's lawyers to review the case materials and provide her opinion on . The clinician-administered PTSD scale for DSM5 (CAPS-5): Development and initial psychometric evaluation in military veterans. Cluster B personality disorders include conditions such as narcissistic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Dr. Shannon Curry. Dr. Shannon Curry Johnny Depp. Curry is basing her opinion on a 12-hour assessment she conducted with Heard (during which time Heard took several mental health tests), along with Heard's health records, various documents, audio recordings, photos, and videos. Curry said it was just part of the interview process. Psychologist Dr. Shannon Curry was first called as a witness in the Depp-Heard defamation trial in April 2022. When asked whether she had dinner with Mr Depp, Dr Curry replied that she became hungry after three hours, when Mr Depp ordered takeout for everyone present at the time including the actors attorneys Adam Waldman, Ben Chew, and Camille Vasquez.