A clinically significant psychiatric condition

Adjustment disorder - A clinically significant psychiatric condition Factor

In the SOPs for anxiety disorder, among others, the RMA has defined "a clinically significant psychiatric condition" to mean "any Axis 1 disorder of mental health that attracts a diagnosis under DSM-IV-TR which is sufficient to warrant ongoing management, which may involve regular visits (for example, at least monthly), to a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or general practitioner".

Axis 1 covers clinical disorders, for example, substance-related disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders (including PTSD), depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Generally, it would be expected that if a psychiatric disorder warranted treatment then treatment would be sought.  However, where treatment was not sought, a person's psychiatric disorder might still meet the RMA definition if there was persuasive and professional evidence, based on a comprehensive clinical history, that ongoing management had been warranted.

Last reviewed for CCPS 15 October 2008.

Preliminary questions [40207]

1709     the veteran has had a psychiatric condition at some time.

6058     psychiatric condition means any Axis 1 disorder of mental health that attracts a diagnosis under DSM-IV-TR. [Default true]

26043 the identified illness or injury, a psychiatric condition, has been clinically significant at some time.

40266 the identified illness or injury, a psychiatric condition, was clinically significant within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

40263  the veteran has established the causal connection between the clinically significant psychiatric condition and VEA service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

40264   the veteran has established the causal connection between the clinically significant psychiatric condition and operational service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

or

40265   the veteran has established the causal connection between the clinically significant psychiatric condition and eligible service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

Clinical onset and operational service [40264]

26044  the identified illness or injury, a clinically significant psychiatric condition, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [40265]

26045  the identified illness or injury, a clinically significant psychiatric condition, is causally related to eligible service.