How does the Social Security Administration Evaluate a Mental Disorder?
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) evaluation of a disability on the basis of a mental disorder is based on the following:
- Documentation of a medically determinable impairment(s);
- Degree of limitation that the impairment(s) may have on the claimant’s ability to work; and
- The determination of whether these limitations have lasted or are expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
What are some categories of Mental Disorders?
The following categories of mental disorders are described more in depth on the SSA’s website:
- Organic mental disorders: described as psychological or behavioral abnormalities associated with a dysfunction of the brain
- Schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychotic disorders
- Affective disorders: characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Mental retardation
- Anxiety-related disorders
- Somatoform disorders: defined as physical symptoms for which there are no demonstrable organic findings or known physiological mechanisms;
- Personality disorders
- Substance addiction disorders
- Autistic disorder
- Other pervasive developmental disorders
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