Expert reports · Statement credibility
Statement Credibility Assessments
A statement credibility assessment examines whether a specific statement can be based on actual experience. It is the statement that is assessed, not the person, and methodological minimum standards apply (Federal Court of Justice, judgment of 30 July 1999 – 1 StR 618/98). We offer statement credibility reports, methodical reviews of existing reports and medical assessment of testimonial capacity in the context of mental illness and trauma.
For an initial review, the question, the instructing party and any deadline are sufficient.
Typical questions
- Credibility of a specific statement (not of the person)
- How a statement developed over time and possible suggestive influences
- Testimonial capacity in the context of mental illness or trauma
- Methodical review of existing credibility reports
Who instructs us
- Lawyers (defence and victim representation)
- Courts
- Public prosecutors
Approach
Assessments follow the hypothesis-driven method of statement validity analysis: testimonial capacity, content quality (criteria-based content analysis) and statement origin are examined separately.
Psychiatric and psychosomatic expertise adds value, for example where trauma-related disorders are involved, supported by an MSc in Communication, Behaviour & Credibility Analysis.
What we need to review an instruction
- Type of proceedings and case reference
- Complete interview transcripts and statements
- Any existing reports
- The question and the role you would like us to take
- Deadline
Professional responsibility
Doctor-medic Otilia Gudana, MSc
- Consultant in Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy (Bavarian Medical Association)
- Specialist training and practice in psychiatry, most recently acting senior consultant at the Department of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, kbo Isar-Amper-Klinikum Taufkirchen
- MSc Communication, Behaviour & Credibility Analysis (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Full professional backgroundAssessment methodologyMedical association and contact
Last updated: October 2026
Process and fees
- 01
Enquiry
Brief details of the instructing party, questions and deadline – via the enquiry form or by phone.
- 02
Initial check
Review of jurisdiction, conflicts of interest and scope. You will then hear whether the instruction can be accepted.
- 03
Offer and fees
For private instructions, fees and timeframe are agreed in writing before the instruction is accepted. For court instructions, remuneration follows the JVEG.
- 04
File review & examination
Analysis of the documents and a clinical interview where required.
- 05
Report
Written report with transparent reasoning. On request, Doctor-medic Otilia Gudana explains the report to the instructing party.
For private instructions, fees and timeframe depend on the question, the size of the file and the examination required, and are agreed in writing before the instruction is accepted (see Terms, § 5). For court instructions, remuneration follows the applicable provisions of the JVEG.
Frequently asked questions
Do you assess whether a person is trustworthy?
No. The assessment concerns the credibility of a specific statement, not the general trustworthiness of the person.
Can body language prove that a statement is credible?
No. Facial expressions, gestures, eye contact or other individual non-verbal behaviours are not a reliable basis for assessing the credibility of a statement.
What is a methodical review?
It examines an existing report to determine whether the question, hypothesis formation, data basis and conclusion meet methodological minimum standards.
This page provides information about expert report services. It is neither legal advice nor medical treatment. The legal decision is made by the court or the competent authority.