Scott D Bender, PhD

Scott D. Bender, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist and professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral science.

He earned his doctorate at the University of North Texas, where he began his studies of malingering and response styles. After completing his residency in clinical neuropsychology at Yale University, he completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the department of neurology at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Bender joined the Neuropsychology Assessment Clinic within the UVA Department of Psychiatry in 2002,. He has been with the Department’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy since 2005. His primary duties include conducting clinical and forensic neuropsychological evaluations, teaching, publishing, and consulting with courts and other agencies throughout the country.

His forensic research interests include civil and criminal competencies, differential diagnosis of malingering, and the effects of traumatic brain injury (particularly concussion) on neurocognitive and emotional functioning. He is frequently called to testify in both civil and criminal matters, and has authored multiple published manuscripts, articles, and chapters. He is co-editor of the fourth edition of Clinical Assessment of Malingering and Deception.

Dr. Bender enjoys supervising psychiatry residents and forensic and clinical neuropsychology fellows. Common civil referrals include requests for independent medical examinations (workers compensation, civil capacity), especially in cases involving possible traumatic brain injury, post-concussive syndrome, psychological trauma, and chronic pain. Criminal referrals typically involve neurological or psychiatric complications relating to questions of competency (to waive Miranda rights, stand trial, or accept a plea agreement), mental status at the time of the offense and criminal responsibility, or pre-sentencing and mitigating factors.