Prediction of occupational disability from psychological and neuropsychological evidence in forensic context.
Within the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and neuropsychology, medical examiners are often tasked with providing an opinion about an injured individual's health prognosis and likelihood of returning to work. Traditionally, examiners have conducted such assessments by employing clinical intuition, expert knowledge, and judgment. More recently, however, an accumulation of research on factors predictive of disability has allowed examiners to provide prognostications using specific empirically supported evidence. This paper integrates current evidence for four common clinical issues encountered in forensic assessments-musculoskeletal pain, depression, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and traumatic brain injury. It discusses an evidence-informed, cross-diagnostic and multifactorial model of predicting disability that is emerging from the literature synthesis, along with recommendations for best forensic assessment practice.
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: ischultz@telus.net.
Izabela Z
IZ
Schultz
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: ada.law@alumni.ubc.ca.
Ada K
AK
Law
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: leannac@ualberta.ca.
Leanna C
LC
Cruikshank
D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries; D011379:Prognosis; D011584:Psychology; D062707:Return to Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D000068099:Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis
Depression; Forensic assessment; PTSD; Predictors of disability; Return to work; Traumatic brain injury