PSYCHIATRIC
DISABILITY
A CENTER OF MEDICAL EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION, AND EXPERTISE FOR THE COMMUNITY
WHAT IS A
DISABILITY EVALUATION?
Your provider recommended a disability evaluation, which will measure how well you are functioning in your daily life. We will use multiple tools to measure the impact of psychiatric illness on your daily functional skills and abilities. Once we have the results, together we will design a treatment plan that will help you on the road to recovery. The evaluation is a two-part process. The first part of the evaluation is designed to get to know you better. We will conduct interviews, exams, and get a better understanding of your history so that we can evaluate your psychological, social, and occupational functioning. The second part of the evaluation wraps up the exam and focuses on the treatment plan. We will discuss any impairments, limitations, or restrictions related to your condition. We will set goals for your progress and you will commit to doing your part to recover.
HOW DO WE MEASURE PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY? We use multiple tools in our evaluation process, but the two tools you will hear us talk about the most are the GAF and the WHODAS. We will discuss your scores on these two measures with you and we will monitor your progress throughout your recovery process.
WHODAS A CENTER OF MEDICAL
EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION, AND The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule FOR COMMUNITY (WHODAS 2.0)EXPERTISE is an assessment tool THE used to measure your health and disability levels. The WHODAS measures your level of functioning in these six areas:
1. Cognition – understanding and communicating 2. Mobility – moving and getting around 3. Self-care – attending to one’s hygiene, dressing, eating and staying alone 4. Getting along – interacting with other people 5. Life activities – domestic responsibilities, leisure, work and school 6. Participation – joining in community activities, participating in society
The WHODAS will measure your disability with a numerical score which correlates to these terms: none (0-0.49), mild (0.5-1.49), moderate (1.5-2.49), severe (2.5-3.49), or extreme (3.5-4). People with mild or moderate psychiatric disability typically experience consistent problems with work and social relationships. For example, they’re having symptoms such as panic attacks more than once per week, impaired judgment, thinking or speech, disturbances of mood and motivation, or difficulty with effective work and social relationships. People with severe and extreme psychiatric disability typically have occupational and social difficulties in most areas, such as with work and school, family relationships, judgment, thinking or mood. For example, they have symptoms such as suicidal ideation, ritualistic behaviors, illogical speech, nearly continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stress, neglect of personal appearance or an inability to maintain relationships (work or social).
GAF
The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale is used to rate how serious a person’s mental illness may be. It measures how much a person's symptoms affect their day-to-day life on a scale of 0 to 100. The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with scores on the lower end indicating that the individual is having severe difficulty with daily activities and functions and may be a danger to themselves or others, and higher scores representing an individual with minimal difficulty in daily functions. Your GAF score describes your overall level of functioning and your ability to carry out everyday activities. For example, review the ranges and example descriptions below: 61-70. Mild symptoms, such as mild insomnia or depressed mood or some difficulty in social, occupational, or home situations. 41-50. Serious symptoms, such as suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals or serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, inability to keep a job). 21-30. A person experiences delusions or hallucinations or serious impairment in communication or judgment or is unable to function in almost all areas (e.g., no job, home, or friends).
Evaluation Part 1 You will have an appointment where we interview you to learn more about your present levels of functioning and review your history. We will use GAF, WHODAS, and other mental exams.
Your provider recommends an evaluation to measure your level of disability. We will get you scheduled for two evaluation appointments.
Start
At your second evaluation appointment, we will finish your interview, discuss your scores, discuss our findings, establish goals, and create your treatment plan.
Evaluation Part 2
Get Treatment You will follow your treatment plan. Be sure to take your medicine, do your homework, attend your medical appointments, and all recommended therapy sessions.
At your check-ups, you will retake the GAF and WHODAS at consistent intervals. We will adjust your treatment plan accordingly.
Monitor Progress
The Beal Wellness Disability Roadmap
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES This exam costs $400, but your insurance company might pay for it. Please call your insurance company and ask if they cover CPT code 99455 and ask if our office needs to request an authorization. If your provider thinks you need to take time off work until we can get you scheduled for the evaluation, our office will provide a letter to your employer that recommends your absence be excused until we conduct the evaluation. Provide us with your job description and medical records. Be open and honest about your history and your present symptoms. You don’t have anything to be ashamed of; we are here to help. Arrive on time. The evaluation may take up to three hours. Ask questions about our findings and help us create your treatment plan. Read and follow your treatment plan. It is rare, but the provider may recommend treatments such as time off work or checking into a residential facility. Get your support system involved if you need help with these interventions. Complete your WHODAS or screening forms in time for each of your check-ups. We are happy to help if you need our office to complete any forms, letters, or paperwork. There is a separate fee for our office to complete forms, including FMLA and disability insurance. Communicate with your job if we recommend leave extensions or if we recommend new return-to-work dates. Manage your paperwork due dates and submit everything to our office and your job on time. We do our part well, but we cannot rush our records process. Make sure we receive all paperwork in a timely manner.