August 19, 2010

Social Security Administration: Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Mental Disorders

On August 19, 2010, the federal Social Security Administration released an announcement that proposed changes for evaluating mental disorders. Additional aspects included the following:

• Addiction disorder would be deleted as eligible for SSA disability, but would be considered as indicative of other, qualifying mental health disorders

•  Definitions for “marked” and “extreme” functioning deficits would be clarified as reflecting the overall degree to which a mental disorder interferes with a person’s use of an ability, but does not necessarily reflect a specific number or type of activity that a person has difficulty doing

• The need for psychosocial supports would be considered

• Functioning would be considered in work-related terms (or for children, in school-related terms), such as the ability to understand, remember, and apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, and maintain pace; and manage oneself

• Non-physician mental health professionals, such as therapists and social workers, would be able to provide documentation and evidence of a person’s functioning over time