Main description:

The purpose of this book is to demystify the evaluation and management of common psychological disorders and psychosocial issues which impact all realms of medical and mental health practice. These types of issues are often seen as "medical quicksand" by treating professionals, employers, and insurers alike. Consequently, there is a system-wide avoidance of these disorders that significantly increase medical and disability costs. However, there is a considerable cost to individual and society as well in terms of the reduction in the quality of life of the individual and the high costs associated with chronic use of medical resources.

It is essential to note the complexity of the psychiatric and psychosocial disability conundrum. This dilemma is not limited solely to short-term, minor problems but leach into the full spectrum of disability systems: private insurance, disability insurance, and federal programs for disabled persons. This book will provide innovative tools to confidently navigate the disability process by implementing, for the first time, true objective information coupled with the state-of-the-art evidence-based research. Thus, all individuals involved in the psychiatric disability process will be able to properly manage the process, optimize the treatment for an optimal outcome and avoid iatrogenic disability. In particular, the book will provide a clear evidence-based guidance for the evaluation and treatment process not only for individuals with obvious psychological problems, but for symptomatic individual with no discernable etiology or who simply never seem to get well.

Contents:

Overview of the scope of psychological and behavioral health disability

Review of current federal figures, such as Social Security, to demonstrate the steep increase of psychological disability.

Review of international data/empirical research to demonstrate similar trend in other countries.

Overview of the lack of coordination of treatment

Overview of lack of coordination among all professionals involved in the psychological and behavioral health disability process

True psychological concerns versus psycho-social concerns

Comorbidity and psychological concerns

Purpose of the book is to present multiple perspectives from different types of professionals involved in the psychological and disability process: Primary care physician, occupational medicine physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, rehabilitation professionals, such as a physical therapist and rehabilitation/vocational counselor, attorney, employer, and insurer. Each of these different perspectives will address issues specific to each professional, determination of psychological functioning specific to the identified concern, gaps into determining functioning and how to address, such as referral to another professional.

Primary Care Medicine and Psychological and Behavioral Health Disability

Epidemiological and prevalence of psychological and behavioral health concerns in primary care medicine.

Discussion of usual care treatment process: strengths and weaknesses

Determining current psychological functioning: strengths and weaknesses

Referral and coordination of treatment considerations: strengths and weakness in current process

Medicalization: The process of taking everyday occurrences and identifying them as medical concerns

Malingering and symptom exaggeration

Patient compliance issues: limitations and strategies for improved management

Appropriate documentation of limitations in functioning

Treatment outcomes: Strategies for addressing individual's return to work

Occupational Medicine

Epidemiological and prevalence of psychological and behavioral health concerns in Occupational Medicine.

Discussion of usual care treatment process: strengths and weaknesses

Determining current psychological functioning: strengths and weaknesses

Referral and coordination of treatment considerations: strengths and weakness in current process

Medicalization: The process of taking everyday occurrences and identifying them as medical concerns

Symptom exaggeration and malingering

Patient compliance issues: limitations and strategies for improved management

Appropriate documentation of limitations in functioning

Treatment outcomes: Strategies for addressing individual's return to work

Psychology

Epidemiological and prevalence of psychological and behavioral health concerns in Clinical Psychology.

Discussion of usual care treatment process: strengths and weaknesses

Determining current psychological functioning: strengths and weaknesses

Appropriate psychological testing (This will be a separate chapter because of complexity of the multiple factors involved.) Estimated pages: 40

Symptom exaggeration and Malingering

Referral and coordination of treatment considerations: strengths and weakness in current process

Medicalization: The process of taking everyday occurrences and identifying them as medical concerns

Patient compliance issues: limitations and strategies for improved management

Appropriate documentation of limitations in functioning

Treatment outcomes: Strategies for addressing individual's return to work

Psychiatry

Epidemiological and prevalence of psychological and behavioral health concerns in Psychiatry.

Discussion of usual care treatment process: strengths and weaknesses

Determining current psychiatric functioning: strengths and weaknesses

Psychological testing

4

Symptom exaggeration and Malingering

Referral and coordination of treatment considerations: strengths and weakness in current process

Medicalization: The process of taking everyday occurrences and identifying them as medical concerns

Appropriate documentation of limitations in functioning

Treatment outcomes: Strategies for addressing individual's return to work

Rehabilitation

Epidemiological and prevalence of psychological and behavioral health concerns in Psychiatry.

Discussion of usual care treatment process: strengths and weaknesses

Determining current psychiatric functioning: strengths and weaknesses

Rehabilitation assessment and testing

Symptom exaggeration and Malingering

Referral and coordination of treatment considerations: strengths and weakness in current process

Medicalization: The process of taking everyday occurrences and identifying them as medical concerns

Patient compliance issues: limitations and strategies for improved management

Appropriate documentation of limitations in functioning

Treatment outcomes: Strategies for addressing individual's return to work

Legal Perspective

Plaintiff versus defense perspective on psychological and behavioral health disability

State legislative considerations

Federal considerations: FMLA and ADA

HIPAA limitations with disability

Legal perspective in defining appropriate outcome

Employer Perspective

Maintaining a productive workplace

Workplace absence policy: Strengths and weakness in current employer policies

Problematic workplace behaviors that serve as catalysts for filing for a psychological disability claim

Obtaining required documentation: strengths and weaknesses in current process

Gaps in communication with treating professionals

Appropriate workplace accommodations

Helping the employee stay at work

The insurer and psychological/behavioral health disability

Insurer perspective

Case management perspective

Current issues in providing insurance coverage for psychological, behavioral health, and co-morbid claims

Current identified drivers of psychological disability claims

Strategies for effective management

Future Directions

Summarization/recap

Recommendations for initiating immediate change in the process

Implications for long-term change

Implications for future research