4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Forensic Evaluations in Defense Base Act Cases is presented by Lisa Drago, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP). 

The Defense Base Act (DBA) is a federal workers' compensation program that provides benefits to civilian employees who sustain injuries while working on U.S. military bases overseas. A substantial number of these cases involve allegations of psychological injuries, most often, PTSD. 

This program provides an introduction to forensic evaluations in DBA cases, including the legal context, assessment strategies, cultural issues, and data interpretation. 

This training is intended for psychologists familiar with forensic work who are interested in expanding into DBA work. Familiarity with disability and/or other types of workers' compensation evaluations is helpful, but not necessary. 


Program Outline:

I. Introduction

II. Legal context

III. Cultural & linguistic issues

IV. Assessing PTSD

V. Data interpretation

VI. Case study

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the psycholegal issues to be addressed in a DBA case
  • 2 Describe how linguistic and cultural issues impact evaluations in DBA cases
  • 3 Describe approaches to the assessment of PTSD
  • 4 Describe approaches to the assessment of dissimulation in DBA cases
Presented By

Lisa Drago, PhD, ABPP

Lisa Drago, Ph.D., ABPP is a board-certified forensic psychologist (ABPP). Specializing in civil forensic matters, Dr. Drago is in private practice in Annapolis, Maryland. She has a particular interest in employment-related cases including disability, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, ADA, fitness for duty, and workplace violence. She regularly conducts evaluations in disability, workers’ compensation, personal injury, fitness for duty, and security clearance cases. She has testified as an expert witness on these matters in both state and federal courts. In addition, Dr. Drago serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State Forensic Behavioral Science Service regarding fitness for duty and security issues.



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  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for psychologists who have experience in forensic evaluations and are interested in expanding their expertise to include Defense Base Act (DBA) cases. It is particularly relevant for those who may already be familiar with disability or workers’ compensation evaluations and are seeking to broaden their practice to address the unique challenges presented by DBA claims, including psychological injuries such as PTSD.

    The program is also suitable for professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of the legal, cultural, and assessment complexities involved in evaluating civilian employees injured while working on U.S. military bases overseas.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Psychologist
    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Clinical Psychologist
    • Mental Health Professional
    • Neuropsychologist
    • Rehabilitation Psychologist
    • Disability Evaluator
    • Workers’ Compensation Evaluator

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with foundational knowledge of forensic evaluation, seeking to expand their expertise to Defense Base Act (DBA) cases.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to DBA cases but have experience with forensic or disability evaluations; seeking to understand the legal context, assessment strategies, and unique cultural/linguistic considerations in DBA psychological injury claims.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some exposure to workers’ compensation or disability evaluations and are looking to deepen their skills in assessing PTSD, dissimulation, and interpreting data within the DBA framework.

    • Advanced: Participants have substantial experience with forensic evaluations and are interested in refining their approach to complex DBA cases, including nuanced psycholegal issues and advanced assessment techniques.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where they conduct forensic psychological evaluations related to legal, disability, or workers’ compensation matters. Their practice settings often involve collaboration with attorneys, courts, insurance companies, and government agencies. These professionals may work independently in private practice, as part of multidisciplinary forensic groups, or within hospital or clinic-based assessment teams.

    Their workspaces are structured to support confidential interviews, psychological testing, and comprehensive report writing, often requiring secure handling of sensitive information and adherence to legal and ethical standards.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private forensic psychology practices
    • Multidisciplinary forensic assessment centers
    • Hospital-based forensic or neuropsychology departments
    • Consulting roles for law firms, insurance companies, or government agencies
    • Workers’ compensation evaluation clinics
    • Academic medical centers with forensic evaluation services
We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

<center>American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.


Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, 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 as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.