Am J Psychiatry 1986; 143:164-169
Copyright © 1986 by American Psychiatric Association
How to write a psychiatric report for litigation following a personal injury
BF Hoffman
Psychiatrists are frequently asked to assess the psychiatric complications
of personal injury cases for individuals who are seeking damages from third
parties as the result of an accident. A selective review of the literature
concerning the etiology and diagnoses applicable to psychiatric morbidity
following personal injury is summarized. The author presents one outline of
the medical-legal consultation. The reasons for inclusion of each category
of information are discussed, and practical suggestions are made on how the
data can be interpreted and used to educate the judicial system about the
emotional consequences of accidents.
