“Deferred” diagnosis - Cross-Examining Psych Doctors, Tip #72

When reading a psych report you may find a “Deferred” diagnosis on Axis II.  According to the DSM-IV and the DSM-IV-TR a “Deferred” diagnosis is only used when the doctor has “Information inadequate to make any diagnostic judgment about an Axis II diagnosis.”  In this regard, as I discussed in Tip #58, Axis II is the axis on which Personality Disorders are diagnosed.  Personality Disorders are lifelong patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that cause significant impairment in social and/or occupational functioning and/or subjective distress.  Individuals with occupational or personnel problems and/or those who present with psychological signs and/or symptoms often have Personality Disorders that cause those employment issues to arise.  Accordingly, it is difficult to understand just why a doctor would chose to write their report without adequate information concerning the possible presence of a Personality Disorder.  However, it is apparent that writing a comprehensive medical-legal report without that adequate information constitutes a substantial flaw in that document.

More help for cross-examining psych doctors can be found at my website (www.drleckartwetc.com) and in my book Psychological Evaluations In Litigation: A Practical Guide for Attorneys and Insurance Adjusters

Check out my blog (http://drleckart.blogspot.com). 

DrLeckartWETC@gmail.com, (844) 444-8898