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| Company or Individual Name
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Addiction Forensics Group |
| Company's Web Site Address
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http://www.becksonmd.com |
Company
Description
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Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Addictions
Dr. Beckson has treated over two thousand individuals addicted to cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, pain medication, marijuana, and alcohol since 1991. He is board certified in Addiction Psychiatry and certified in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Beckson has founded and directed alcohol & drug treatment programs (both inpatient and outpatient). He is experienced in individual, group, and medication therapies for detoxification and rehabilitation. Dr. Beckson has conducted published research in brain imaging of crack cocaine addicts, as well as medication treatment of heroin and cocaine abuse, under the auspices of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Dr. Beckson is lead author of the Addictions chapter in the current edition of the widely used text, Principles and Practice of Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Beckson has lectured to attorneys and psychiatrists on a variety of issues in addictions. He currently serves as Chair on the Task Force on Adolescent Substance Abuse of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, and serves on the Addiction Psychiatry Committee of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
Suicide and Risk Assessment
Dr. Beckson has evaluated and treated hundreds of suicidal individuals. He is highly experienced in clinical risk assessment of suicidality. Dr. Beckson teaches risk assessment to UCLA psychiatry residents in his role as Medical Director of the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and he has lectured to attorneys and psychiatrists on this topic. At the VA, Dr. Beckson serves on the Suicide Root Cause Analysis Team, which examines all suicidal acts at the Medical Center. Expert in the use of California mental health law to provide involuntary psychiatric treatment, Dr. Beckson regularly testifies in the Mental Health department of the Superior Court in the County of Los Angeles. In addition, he has consulted in civil lawsuits filed in the wake of completed suicides.
Sex Offenses; Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse; Sexual Addiction
Dr. Beckson, trained and licensed to administer the Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest, has evaluated numerous suspects accused of child molestation, as well as adults who were victims of childhood sexual abuse. He has consulted on cases involving alleged rape and internet child pornography. Dr. Beckson has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders, including the paraphilias and sexual addiction. He is also experienced with the issues of sex workers and has consulted to the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, as well as to the Sexual Recovery Institute. Dr. Beckson has consulted in civil and criminal cases, and has been qualified as an expert in sex offenses (Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties), sexual addiction (Ventura County), and post traumatic stress disorder following childhood sexual abuse (San Francisco County).
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Dr. Beckson has evaluated and treated hundreds of patients with PTSD, including combat veterans, civilian victims of trauma, and adult victims of childhood sexual abuse. He is highly experienced in the diagnosis of malingering in PTSD claims, and has performed compensation & pension evaluations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as consulting in civil and criminal court cases. Dr. Beckson has been qualified as an expert in PTSD in Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties.
Therapist Sexual Misconduct; Boundary Violations
Dr. Beckson is experienced in the ethical issues involving boundary management in addiction treatment and psychotherapy, and he has lectured on these topics to the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Dr. Beckson has consulted in cases before professional licensing boards.
Workplace Violence and Risk Assessment of Violent Individuals
Dr. Beckson has evaluated potentially violent employees of the US Postal Service, as well as those of private corporations. He has lectured on the psychiatric aspects of violent employees at the National Conference on Threats & Workplace Violence. Dr. Beckson is well versed in California mental health law, including the involuntary hospitalization and treatment of violent individuals. As Medical Director of the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Dr. Beckson trains psychiatry residents in the assessment of risk in potentially violent patients.
Stalking and Threat Assessment
In his role as Medical Director of the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Beckson has evaluated and treated veterans detained by the US Secret Service for threats against the President. In addition, he has evaluated and treated celebrity stalkers detained by the FBI and the LAPD Threat Management Unit. Dr. Beckson belongs to the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and regularly attends the annual national meeting.
Impaired Physicians; Professional Fitness for Duty
As an Expert Reviewer for the California Medical Board, Dr. Beckson has consulted in numerous cases involving the functional impairment of physicians and other health care professionals. In addition, he has served as consultant to the Committee of Bar Examiners in California, and has conducted independent evaluations of physician disability for insurance purposes.
Brain Injury; Neuropsychiatry
A graduate of the two year fellowship in behavioral neurology at UCLA, Dr. Beckson has conducted hundreds of evaluations of behavioral problems associated with brain disease or injury. He has also conducted research in brain abnormalities and injury, particularly in relation to drug abuse, and has contributed to numerous published scientific articles. Dr. Beckson is lead author of the chapter on brain disease and forensic neuropsychiatric issues in the current edition of the text, Principles and Practice of Forensic Psychiatry. He has worked closely with neurologists and neuropsychologists. While a fellow in the UCLA Neurobehavior Clinic, Dr. Beckson helped establish regular neuropsychiatric evaluations in death penalty cases for the Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles. |
Degrees and
Certifications
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Harvard College
A.B. magna cum laude in Biochemical Sciences
1976-1980
The Rockefeller University
Graduate studies in molecular biology
1980-1983
Cornell University Medical College
M.D.
1980-1985
The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center/Payne Whitney Clinic Internship
1985-1986
University of California at Los Angeles/Neuropsychiatric Institute Psychiatry Residency and Chief Residency
1986-1989
University of California at Los Angeles/Department of Neurology Fellowship/Division of Neurobehavior
1989-1991
Licensure:
Physician and Surgeon, License No. G59242, State of California
1986-
Board Certification:
National Board of Medical Examiners Certificate No. 289627 1986
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology:
Psychiatry
Certificate No. 33666
1991
Addiction Psychiatry
Certificate No. 0499
1994-2004
Geriatric Psychiatry
Certificate No. 0874
1994-2004
Forensic Psychiatry
Certificate No. 06 |
Professional
Memberships
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American Society of Addiction Medicine:
Addiction Medicine
Certificate No. 010603
1994
Medical Review Officer
Drug Testing
1995 |
Other Notes
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| Hourly Rate
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Not Specified |
| States Willing to Work
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Any |
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