Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2008 Nov;15(4):310-315.

Opinion of Experts about Psychiatric Evaluation after Trauma in Korea

• Lee BC
• Ryu SG
• Jung HY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The evaluation of disability after trauma in psychiatry is relatively subjective compared with other departments. A consensus among evaluators could improve reliability of evaluations. We compared disability rate of common psychiatric disorders without definite brain injury depending on their diagnosis from experienced evaluators in Korea.
METHODS
A written questionnaire was mailed to each evaluator and the reply was analyzed. The questions included disability rate ranges of postconcussional syndrome, PTSD and depression. Other questions related with admission for evaluation, expected duration of treatment, life expectancy and need of supporting person were also asked.
RESULTS
Range of disability rate were from 8.6+/-4.5% to 26.6+/-12.8% in postconcussional syndrome, from 10.4+/-6.8% to 36.4+/-13.8% in PTSD and from 10.0+/-4.6% to 30.6+/-10.3% in depressive disorder. There were lots of diversity in expected duration of treatment with psychiatric disability. Decline of life expectancy and need of supporting person were considered at least 50% of disability.
CONCLUSION
There is much diversity in evaluation of psychiatric disabilities with disability rate and expected duration of treatments even among experienced evaluators. A common consensus among experts may increase reliability of psychiatric evaluations after trauma.

Keyword

Psychiatric disability; Postconcussional syndrome; Post traumatic disorder; Depression

MeSH Terms

Brain Injuries
Consensus
Depression
Depressive Disorder
Humans
Korea
Life Expectancy
Postal Service
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Surveys and Questionnaires