Adjustment disorder - A category 1B stressor Factor
RMA definition
The RMA has defined this to mean "one of the following severe traumatic events:
- being an eyewitness to a person being killed or critically injured;
- viewing corpses or critically injured casualties as an eyewitness;
- being an eyewitness to atrocities inflicted on another person or persons;
- killing or maiming a person; or
- being an eyewitness to or participating in, the clearance of critically injured casualties".
The RMA has also defined "an eyewitness" to mean "a person who observes an incident first hand and can give direct evidence of it. This excludes a person exposed only to media coverage of the incident".
Case law
"Experiencing a severe stressor" has been the subject of Federal Court determinations and an Advisory Note. Whilst a category 1B stressor is not exactly the same there are enough similarities for the following advice to be considered:
In assessing whether a particular event is a "severe stressor" as defined, it is necessary to consider both the objective nature of the event and the veteran's subjective knowledge about the event. The authority for this approach is the Federal Court decision in Stoddart, and you should read AN02/2003 Federal Court Decision Stoddart.
Last reviewed for CCPS 15 October 2008.
Preliminary questions [40203]
35935 the veteran has experienced a category 1B stressor at some time.
40217 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.
40218 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and operational service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.
or
40219 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and eligible service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.
Clinical onset and operational service [40218]
37372 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
40221 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
40223 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.
or
37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
40225 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
37391 the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to operational service.
Clinical onset and eligible service [40219]
37374 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
37375 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
40222 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
40224 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.
or
37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
40225 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
37392 the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to eligible service.