Emotional Damages Episode 10 Recap: Paraphilic Disorders, SVP Evaluation, and Risk Assessment—Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Brian Holoyda Explains What Attorneys Must Know
Cases involving allegations of sexual violence or sexually deviant behaviors demand forensic precision, empathy, and a nuanced understanding of risk and diagnosis. In this week’s Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi interviews Dr. Brian Holoyda, one of the nation’s leading forensic psychiatrists on sexual violence risk assessment and paraphilic disorders.
Key Insights from the Episode
- Clarity Between Paraphilia and Paraphilic Disorder
Dr. Holoyda explains the DSM-5 distinction: a paraphilia is an atypical sexual interest, but a paraphilic disorder only applies when that interest causes distress to the individual or harm to others. Not all disturbing sexual behavior indicates a diagnosable mental illness; this fine line is critical for attorneys advocating in SVP or related cases. - Foundations of Sexual Violence Risk Assessment
Commonly used risk tools, such as the Static-99R (actuarial) and SVR-20, Stable-2007, RSVP (structured professional judgment), help estimate the likelihood of recidivism. Evaluators assess both static factors (e.g., prior offenses) and dynamic/protective factors (e.g., changeable behaviors, group involvement) to provide a balanced view of risk. - How Experts Help Attorneys on Direct & Cross
Dr. Holoyda recommends attorneys become familiar with the risk assessment instruments and ask pointed questions regarding their scoring, limitations, and relevance. He underscores the value of experts who can clearly and objectively explain their findings, including protective and mitigating factors. - International Practice and Ethical Challenges
Dr. Holoyda contrasts U.S. and Australian SVP evaluation practices, noting differences in confidentiality, court processes, and post-conviction treatment recommendations. He also addresses unique ethical issues raised by media access to psychiatric reports and the impact of digital communities in perpetuating sexual offending.
Listen to the full episode now and subscribe to Emotional Damages wherever you get your podcasts.
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