The Cornell medical index in disability evaluation.

The evaluation of persons seeking financial support because of disability due to physical or emotional illness is often difficult. Although definite guidelines have been established to assist in the determination of the degree of impairment from various diseases (Social Security Regulations, 1968) and orthopaedic abnormalities (Committee on Medical Rating of Physical Impairment, 1958), little has been accomplished in this area in patients whose problems are not as easily defined. It has been suggested (Social Security Regulations, 1968) that the MMPI, or a similar psychological measurement, might be useful in the resolution ofsome of the latter cases. However, the time and personnel required for the completion of such tests would probably be prohibitive. The Cornell Medical Index (CMI) (Brodman, Erdmann, and Wolff, 1956), on the other hand, can be filled out in a few minutes, does not require specialized personnel for its administration or interpretation, and yields both medical and psychological information. The present study attempts to determine the feasibility of the CMI as an adjunct in disability evaluation.