Approaching Patients in Forensic Settings Using a Cultural Lens
Live Webinar Offering
This webinar will be broadcasted LIVE from 10:00-11:00 AM PT on February 26, 2026. 

Credit for this course must be claimed by May 26, 2026.
Overview

Description 

With increasing numbers of forensic cases that include mental health components, it is important to understand the cultures and contexts where mental health symptoms present. It is also imperative to understand the cultural contexts of patients within correctional systems for the practicing clinician. In this talk, Dr. Adi will present the basics of cultural psychiatry, explanatory models of illness, and the cultural formulation interview. Dr. Adi will then walk the attendees through some deidentified legal cases, as well as correctional cases, that illustrate these concepts, and present tips and tricks on how to effectively screen for cultural elements affecting mental health symptoms. 

Format 

Live webinar.

Learning Objectives 

At the completion of the activity, participants will: 

Attendees will be able to define and explain cultural psychiatry, cultural idioms of distress, and explanatory models of illness, with at least two examples from correctional and forensic settings  

Attendees will be able to apply at least two questions from the cultural formulation interview of the DSM-5 to explore cultural elements relevant to forensic contexts  

Attendees will be able to apply the concept of cultural humility when approaching patients in correctional settings 

Outline 

  • Explanatory Models of Illness 
  • Screening Tools  
  • Case Examples 
  • Cultural Elements in Forensic Psychiatry 
  • Question and Answer 

Target Audience 

Psychiatrist, Resident or Fellow, Medical Student, Physician (Non-Psychiatric), Physician Assistant, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Technician, Pharmacist, Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, Social Worker 

Instructional Level 

Introductory, Intermediate 

Estimated Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1 hour 
Program Release Date: February 26, 2026 
Program End Date: Februayr 26, 2026 

Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board 

After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.  

How to Earn Credit 

After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit 

In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.  

Physicians   

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.   

Nurses/Nurse Practitioners   

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.00 Nursing contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  

Psychiatric Technicians  

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) as a provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPTs). Provider Number: 15028 

This course is approved for 1.00 of continuing education for LPTs. 

Pharmacists  

This curriculum has been approved for 1.00 contact hours by the American Psychiatric Association.  The American Psychiatric Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number for this program is JA0000145-0000-26-011-L05-P. This learning activity is knowledge based. Your CE credits will be electronically submitted to NABP upon successful completion of the activity. Pharmacists with questions can contact NABP customer service (custserv@nabp.net).   

Psychologists   

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.  

Social Workers    

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 cultural competence continuing education credits. 

***Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.    

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. 

Faculty: 

  • Ahmad Adi, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he specializes in general and forensic psychiatry. He completed his medical degree at Alfaisal University and earned a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University before undergoing residency training at Duke University and a fellowship at the University of Colorado. His professional work and research focus on the intersection of mental health and the law, including trauma narratives in immigration law evaluations and disparities in refugee mental health care. 

Program Planners: 

  • John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Kathryn Hanley, APRN, Austin State Hospital. Ms. Hanley has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Megan Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dr. Ehret has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Amy N. Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Sherin Knah, LCSW, Thresholds, Chicago. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
  • Chares Perdue, Psych Tech Planner, California Department of State Hospitals. Mr. Perdue has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance. 

Technical Requirements 

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following: 

The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari 

Internet Explorer 11+ 

This Web site requires JavaScript and session cookies to be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Windows Media Player. 

Optimal System Configuration: 

Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version) 

Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version) 

Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher 

Minimum Requirements: 

Windows PC: 

Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video 

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |  

Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance 

Summary
Availability:
Registration Required
Expires on May 26, 2026
Location:
Online Meeting
Date / Time:
Feb 26, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Credit Offered:
1 CME Credit
1 NCPD Credit
1 Psychology CE Credit
1 Social Work CE Credit
1 Pharmacy CE Credit
1 COP Credit
1 Psych Tech CE Credit
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