The recent guideline # 19 Determination of a Recognised Psychiatric Diagnosis noted that the The Motor Accidents Authority Permanent Impairment Guidelines – Guidelines for the assessment of permanent impairment stated “The impairment must be attributable to a recognised psychiatric diagnosis in accordance with the Diagnostic Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Edition) [DSM IV], Internal Classification of Diseases (10th Edition) [ICD 10] or a substantial body of peer review research literature
1 The impairment evaluation report must specify the diagnostic criteria upon which the diagnosis is based.”
In May 2013 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM 5) was released and in 2015 the Eleventh Edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is due to be released.
The Guideline stated that with the publication of the DSM 5 it may be unclear for Psychiatric Medical Assessors whether or not they can make a psychiatric diagnosis in accordance with DSM 5.
Preferred Approach
The DSM 5 may be considered by Psychiatric Medical Assessors as “a substantial body of peer review research literature.”(clause 7.13 MAA Guidelines) and apparently may be used together with DSM IV TR and ICD 10.
The Guidelines go on to state that any diagnosis based on DSM 5 must be clearly referenced and “must specify the diagnostic criteria upon which the diagnosis is based”,
However Psychiatric Medical Assessors were reminded that somatoform disorders, (Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders inDSM 5) are not assessed under the MAA Guidelines.
The guideline stated that the preferred interpretation is suggested to promote consistency of assessment and to assist the parties to understand the methodology behind the diagnosis of psychiatric injuries and associated impairment.
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