Depressive disorder - Severe childhood abuse Factor
In the Statements of Principles for Personality Disorder, "severe childhood abuse" means:
(a) serious physical, emotional, psychological or sexual harm whilst a child aged under 16 years; or
(b) neglect involving a serious failure to provide the necessities for health, physical and emotional development, or wellbeing whilst a child aged under 16 years;
where such serious harm or neglect has been perpetrated by a parent, a care provider, an adult who works with or around that child, or any other adult in contact with that child.
General Information
It would be difficult for a person with VEA service to meet the requirements of the Statement of Principles factors for either the onset, or clinical worsening of this condition as the person would need to have received the childhood abuse on service, before the age of 16 years, and for this to be related to their service.
The report from a specialist psychiatrist that conforms with the Repatriation Commission Guidelines for Psychiatric Compensation Claims would include a full statement about events (either prior, during or after service) described by the person that may be related to the claimed psychiatric condition.
If there is a reference to severe childhood abuse during VEA service, before the age of 16, such abuse would generally be well documented in the person's medical records, if it was reported, although you may need to specifically request to see the psychological records. There may also be additional special investigative material if this involved a disciplinary hearing, or prosecution of other service personnel.
Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.
Preliminary questions [41521]
41513 there is some evidence the veteran's severe childhood abuse may be a factor in the onset of the condition under consideration.
39676 the condition under consideration is major depressive episode, recurrent major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder or depressive disorder not otherwise specified.
41522 the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and VEA service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.
41523 the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and operational service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.
or
41524 the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and eligible service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.
Clinical onset and operational service [41523]
40500 on operational service, the veteran experienced severe childhood abuse.
41589 on operational service, the veteran experienced severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
Clinical onset and eligible service [41524]
40501 on eligible service, the veteran experienced severe childhood abuse.
40503 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced severe childhood abuse.
41590 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced severe childhood abuse within the 30 years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.