Psychiatric impairment ratings in children: Suggested guidance points

Abstract

Background: Throughout Australia and New Zealand, it has become accepted practice for psychiatric injury or disability rating scales to be applied for persons claiming psychiatric injury caused by a motor vehicle accident (MVA). All these rating scales were derived for the assessment of adults, not children. There is less clarity as to whether and how these psychiatric injury rating scales may be applied in cases of children claiming psychiatric injury caused by an MVA. Method: We review relevant guidelines and recommended methods for assessing permanent psychiatric impairment in children. Findings: It is possible to apply psychiatric injury rating scales for the assessment of children, provided significant caution is exercised. Guidance points and recommendations for the assessment of children will be outlined. In some cases, the effects of psychiatric injury may not be considered stable and the assessment of permanent impairment should be delayed until sufficient physical and emotional maturity occurs. Conclusions: Psychiatric injury or disability rating scales are widely applied for adult persons claiming psychiatric injury; however, great caution must be exercised when these adult-derived rating scales are used in the assessment of children.L6163694782017-05-29 <br />