background: dysphagia as a common condition affecting many aspects of the patient’s life. the dysphagia handicap index (dhi) is a reliable self-reported questionnaire developed specifically to measure the impact of dysphagia on the patient’s quality of life. the aim of this study was to translate the questionnaire to persian and to measure its validity and reliability in patients with neurogeni...

Disability assessments of patients are among the most common nontherapeutic evaluations requested of treating psychiatrists. Yet, there has been relatively little empirical analysis of how psychiatrists approach these evaluations in real clinical practice. Treating psychiatrists, those both with and without forensic expertise, struggle with the challenge of dual agency and overlapping therapeut...

Christopher et al., in their study of differences between general psychiatrists and forensic psychiatrists in the evaluation of psychiatric disability relative to Social Security Disability Insurance claims, have provided useful information regarding statistically significant differences in practice and beliefs. Despite the relatively small number of participants in this unique survey study, th...

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion persons worldwide have a disability. In the United States, more than 56 million American workers have some form of disability; of these, more than 38 million persons have a severe disability. Blacks and Hispanics are among the groups with the highest disability rates, as well as older patients. Conditions that most often lead to di...

The task of evaluating psychiatric disability poses several ethics-related and practical challenges for psychiatrists, especially when they are responding to a request from a third party for a disability evaluation on their own patient. This study sought to evaluate the differences in how forensic and nonforensic psychiatrists approach and view evaluations for Social Security disability benefit...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate musculoskeletal disorders among active industrial workers. METHODS The study was carried out in São Carlos, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. One hundred and thirty-four female workers were physically evaluated and answered questions about their physical symptoms, filled out a pain scale and gave responses in the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and the Work Ability Index ...

Statement of Intent and Development Process This document is intended to be a review of legal and psychiatric factors and to give practical guidance and assistance in the performance of psychiatric disability evaluations. It was developed by forensic psychiatrists who routinely conduct disability evaluations and have expertise in this area. Some contributors are actively involved in related aca...

Sec. 4.1 Essentials of evaluative rating. 4.2 Interpretation of examination reports. 4.3 Resolution of reasonable doubt. 4.6 Evaluation of evidence. 4.7 Higher of two evaluations. 4.9 Congenital or developmental defects. 4.10 Functional impairment. 4.13 Effect of change of diagnosis. 4.14 Avoidance of pyramiding. 4.15 Total disability ratings. 4.16 Total disability ratings for compensation base...

Medical records of all residents of Rochester, Minnesota, who had a first stroke in 1975-1979 were reviewed to determine level of disability, disposition, and use of rehabilitation services. Of the 292 persons with a first stroke, 251 (86%) (mean age 70 years) survived greater than 1 week. The mean Rankin disability score (Grade 1, no disability, through Grade 5, severe disability) changed from...