Purpose: To assess the psychological impact of an accident, injury, or traumatic event (e.g., car crash, medical malpractice, or assault) on an individual.
What’s Evaluated:
- Emotional distress (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety)
- Cognitive impairment or personality changes following head injury
- Loss of enjoyment in life or daily functioning
- Malingering (i.e., exaggerating symptoms for legal gain)
How it can impact the case: The findings help determine the extent of psychological harm and inform damage awards in litigation.
Purpose: To assess whether an individual (often an elderly adult or person with developmental disabilities) has the mental capacity to make sound decisions about their personal care, finances, or medical treatment.
What’s Evaluated:
- Cognitive functioning (e.g., memory, judgment, orientation)
- Ability to manage finances or health care
- Vulnerability to exploitation
How it can impact the case: Courts use this evaluation to determine whether to appoint a legal guardian or conservator to manage the individual’s affairs.
Purpose: To determine whether an employee has suffered a psychological injury due to workplace-related stress, trauma, or physical injury.
What’s Evaluated:
- Work-related PTSD, depression, or anxiety
- Secondary psychological effects of physical injury (e.g., chronic pain leading to depression
- Functional impairment and return-to-work readiness
How it can impact the case: Results inform benefit eligibility, treatment recommendations, and whether the psychological injury is causally related to the workplace.
Civil Commitment
Purpose: To assess whether an individual with a mental illness meets legal criteria for involuntary hospitalization due to posing a risk to themselves or others.
What’s Evaluated:
- Presence of a severe mental disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Dangerousness (e.g., recent threats, violent behavior, suicidal ideation)
- Insight into their condition and willingness to comply with voluntary treatment
How it can impact the case: Courts use these assessments to determine if involuntary treatment is justified under state law.