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Division 1 - Chapter 5

Division 1

Assessment of the Degree of an Employee's Permanent Impairment Resulting from an Injury

Chapter 5 - Psychiatric Conditions

 

5.0 Introduction and Table 5.1

5.1 Psychiatric Conditions

 

5.0 Introduction

In conducting an assessment, the assessor must have regard to the Principles of Assessment and the definitions contained in the Glossary.

For the purposes of Chapter 5, Activities of Daily Living are those in Figure 5-A .

Figure 5-A: Activities of Daily Living

Activity

Examples

Self care, personal hygiene.

Bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, eliminating.

Communication.

Hearing, speaking, reading, writing, using keyboard.

Physical activity.

Standing, sitting, reclining, walking, stooping, squatting, kneeling, reaching, bending, twisting, leaning, carrying, lifting, pulling, pushing, climbing, exercising.

Sensory function.

Tactile feeling.

Hand functions.

Grasping, holding, pinching, percussive movements, sensory discrimination.

Travel.

Driving or travelling as a passenger.

Sexual function.

Participating in desired sexual activity.

Sleep.

Having a restful sleep pattern.

Social and recreational.

Participating in individual or group activities, sports activities, hobbies.


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5.1 Psychiatric Conditions

Table 5.1: Psychiatric conditions

See note to Table 5.1, immediately after Table on following page.

% WPI

Description of Level of Impairment

0

Reactions to stressors of daily living without loss of personal or social efficiency;

and

Capable of performing Activities of Daily Living without supervision or assistance.

5

Despite the presence of one of the following employee is capable of performing Activities of Daily Living without supervision or assistance:

  • reactions to stressors of daily living with minor loss of personal or social efficiency;
  • lack of conscience directed behaviour without harm to community or self;
  • minor distortions of thinking.

10

Despite the presence of more than one of the following employee is capable of performing Activities of Daily Living without supervision or assistance:

  • reactions to stressors of daily living with minor loss of personal or social efficiency;
  • lack of conscience directed behaviour without harm to community or self;
  • minor distortions of thinking.

15

Any one of the following accompanied by a need for some supervision and direction in Activities of Daily Living:

  • reactions to stressors of daily living which cause modification to daily living patterns;
  • marked disturbances in thinking;
  • definite disturbance in behaviour.

20

Any two of the following accompanied by a need for some supervision and direction in Activities of Daily Living:

  • reactions to stressors of daily living which cause modification of daily living patterns;
  • marked disturbance in thinking;
  • definite disturbance in behaviour.

25

All of the following accompanied by a need for some supervision and direction in Activities of Daily Living:

  • reactions to stressors of daily living which cause modification of daily living patterns;
  • marked disturbances in thinking;
  • definite disturbances in behaviour.

30

Any one of the following accompanied by a need for supervision and direction in Activities of Daily Living:

  • hospital dischargees who require daily medication or regular therapy to avoid remission;
  • loss of self-control and/or inability to learn from experience causing considerable damage to self or community.

40

More than one of the following accompanied by a need for supervision and direction in Activities of Daily Living:

  • hospital dischargees who require daily medication or regular therapy to avoid remission;
  • loss of self-control and/or inability to learn from experience causing considerable damage to self or community.

50

One of the following:

  • severe disturbances of thinking and/or behaviour entailing potential or actual harm to self and/or others;
  • need for supervision and direction in a confined environment.

60

Both of the following:

  • severe disturbances of thinking and/or behaviour which entail potential or actual harm to self and/or others;
  • need for supervision and direction in a confined environment.

90

Very severe disturbance in all aspects of thinking and behaviour requiring constant supervision and care in a confined environment, and assistance with all aspects of Activities of Daily Living

 

Notes to Table 5.1.

1. Table 5.1 includes psychoses, neuroses, personality disorders and other diagnosable conditions. The assessment should be made on optimum medication at a stage where the condition is reasonably stable.

2. Supervision means the immediate presence of a suitable person, responsible in whole or in part for the care of the employee

3. Assistance means the provision of assistance to the employee in performing the activities of daily living by a suitable person, responsible in whole or in part for the care of the employee

4. Direction means the provision of direction to the employee by a suitably qualified person, responsible in whole or in part for the care of the employee

5. Suitable person means a person capable of responsibly caring for the employee in an appropriate way

6. Suitably qualified person means a person with the necessary experience and skills to provide appropriate direction to the employee