A psychiatric forensic interview can include a number of different evaluations. The interview may be part of expert witness testimony in a criminal or civil trial, or it may be an independent medical evaluation for an insurance company, employer, or disability provider. In each case, the entity requesting the evaluation is seeking the expertise of psychiatrist to clarify medical issues as they relate to legal issues.

Forensic evaluations fundamentally differ from routine provision of clinical care, despite significant overlap in how they are performed. The opinion generated by the interview could be helpful, harmful, or neutral to the person being evaluated.