AMA Guides® Newsletter

Articles

Avoiding Psychiatric Disability Overdiagnosis, Part 1: General Disability and Occupational Disability—Going Beyond Medical Impairment Assessments

Fabien Gagnon, Les Kertay

Pages 3–7

DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2021.JulAug01

Abstract
Claims of occupational psychiatric disability have increased considerably over the past 20 years. To avoid psychiatric disability overdiagnosis, it is important to improve the clinical assessment of mental health work disability. This article discusses general disability issues and their impact on individual well-being, social participation, and frequently associated poverty. It defines the difference between impairment assessment and disability assessment, explores three common disability models, and raises issues about psychiatric disability and its potential overdiagnosis.
Treating Physician vs Independent Medical Evaluator

Steven D. Feinberg, Christopher R. Brigham

Pages 8–8

DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2021.JulAug02

Abstract
Who is in the better position to evaluate, the treating physician or an independent medical examination (IME) physician? A treating physician has a patient-advocate role because he or she has a doctor-patient relationship with the patient/claimant. Unlike the treating physician, an IME physician does not have a doctor-patient relationship, and can, therefore, provide an impartial evaluation necessary to assess the extent to which the patient/claimant is impaired or disabled from functional activities of daily living.
Q&A: Whole-Body Vibration and Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Charles N. Brooks, Christopher R. Brigham, Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, James B. Talmage

Pages 10–11

DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2021.JulAug03
Q&A: Rating Costochondritis

Christopher R. Brigham, Charles N. Brooks, James B. Talmage

Pages 12–13

DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2021.JulAug04
Q&A: Total Knee Replacement: Alignment

James B. Talmage, Charles N. Brooks, Christopher R. Brigham

Pages 14–14

DOI: 10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2021.JulAug05

Articles

Avoiding Psychiatric Disability Overdiagnosis, Part 1: General Disability and Occupational Disability—Going Beyond Medical Impairment Assessments

Treating Physician vs Independent Medical Evaluator

Q&A: Whole-Body Vibration and Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Q&A: Rating Costochondritis

Q&A: Total Knee Replacement: Alignment