Document name

Psychological Injuries

Document number

PRO 02/2017

1. The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013, creates a rebuttable legislative presumption that may apply when a worker or former worker receives a diagnosis in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) due to an exposure to a traumatic event or series of events or incidents that arose out of or in the course of employment.
2. POL 02/2017, Injuries – Psychological establishes adjudication guidelines for all psychological injury claims.

General

1. When the WCB receives a psychological injury claim, Operations staff will determine if:
   1. The worker was exposed to a traumatic event or a series of traumatic events that arose out of and in the course of employment.
   2. The worker has received a DSM diagnosis by a psychologist or psychiatrist licensed to practice and make diagnoses.
   3. A Mental Health Assessment (MHA) is required.

DSM Diagnosis

2. Operations staff will determine if a DSM diagnosis has been completed by the worker’s psychologist or psychiatrist.
   1. If the worker has received a DSM diagnosis for the injury, Operations staff will confirm that the DSM diagnosis was completed by a psychiatrist or psychologist licensed to practice and make diagnoses.
   2. Operations staff will obtain the relevant healthcare information from the care provider (e.g., name and location of care provider, DSM diagnosis, treatment dates, treatment plan, etc.). Operations staff may request the worker to fill out a Worker Medical Release of Information Request form (WMROI) to authorize the care provider to release the information to WCB (e.g., if the DSM diagnosis was provided by an out of province psychologist).
   3. Once the DSM diagnosis is received from the worker’s care provider, Operations staff will request WCB’s Psychological Consultant to confirm if the diagnosis meets all of the diagnostic criteria in accordance with the DSM.
      1. If there is insufficient evidence in the diagnosis to make this determination, staff will request WCB’s Health Care Services (HCS) to arrange a MHA.
      2. If the DSM diagnosis provided is from a previous version of the DSM, WCB’s Psychological Consultant may recommend a MHA to determine what issues the worker is currently experiencing and how it relates to the original work injury.
      3. If WCB’s Psychological Consultant confirms that all diagnostic criteria is met, staff will gather addition information to determine if all the requirements for the presumption are met. This may include arranging a MHA where causal relationship between the worker’s employment and the injury is not evident.
3. If a DSM diagnosis is not provided by the worker’s psychologist or psychiatrist, the WCB will obtain all relevant information to determine if the worker was exposed to a traumatic event that arose out of and in the course of employment and suffered a psychological injury.
   1. Where the Operations staff does not have enough information to determine entitlement, the Operations staff will request WCB’s HCS to arrange a MHA, including diagnosis, while Operations staff staff proceed with file development.
   2. Where the causal relationship between the worker’s employment and the injury is evident and irrefutable, a DSM diagnosis may not be required for the claim to be accepted. Operations staff staff will proceed with file development and adjudication.

Mental Health Assessments (MHA)

4. Doctorial psychologists, accredited by WCB, will perform MHAs in accordance with the:
   1. DSM published by the American Psychiatric Association, and
   2. Mental Health Assessment Template (MATR) provided by WCB’s HCS.
5. MHAs will help determine:
   1. Current DSM diagnosis.
   2. The predominant cause of psychological problems.
   3. The ongoing effects of the injury.
   4. The level and expected duration of appropriate care.
   5. An appropriate return-to-work plan.

File Development

6. Where at the time of initial review a decision cannot be made, the Operations staff will contact the worker to explain:
   1. The policy and procedure and what information is required to adjudicate a psychological injury claim.
   2. How long it will take for the WCB to adjudicate and determine entitlement.
   3. Options for financial resources until the WCB determines entitlement.
7. The Operations staff will gather information from the worker, employer, coworkers, care provider and/or any other person with knowledge of the event or events. This could involve, but may not be limited to, the following:
   1. Taking statements.
   2. Interviewing witnesses.
   3. Reviewing:
      1. Employment records.
      2. Relevant/available medical documentation, including any history of psychological health issues, and
      3. Any other evidence related to the injury.
8. If the Operations staff cannot gather the required information to determine entitlement, the Operations staff may refer the file to a Claims Representative. A Claims Representative will gather evidence and further information from the customer, employer, co-workers, witnesses and others. They may view the worksite where the event occurred. Any findings will be provided to the Operations staff.
9. In sensitive situations where it may be difficult for the worker to discuss the traumatic event, staff will gather information from the worker’s care provider and employer.
10. The Operations staff can request the assistance of WCB’s Psychological Consultant at any time during the review or development of claims.
11. The Operations staff may provide coverage for medication and or counselling services while the claim is adjudicated (PRO 50/2017, Health Care Services – Psychologists will apply).
    1. The Operations staff will request consent from the worker to view their counselling reports. These reports may help the Operations staff in determining if a claim is acceptable.
    2. If the Operations staff denies the claim, the medication and counselling services will be covered up to the date of notification. Medication and counselling services will not be charged to the employer.
12. If the Operations staff accepts the claim, the Operations staff will:
    1. Notify the worker and employer by telephone and in writing of the decision.
    2. Arrange for initial earnings loss benefits and expense payments.
    3. Refer the claim to a Operations staff to develop a return-to-work plan.
13. The Operations staff may request HCS to arrange additional MHAs during the ongoing management of the claim. Where the worker has not recovered and/or returned to work within four weeks of diagnosis, the Operations staff will request HCS to arrange a MHA.

Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI)

14. If the Operations staff determines that a worker’s psychological injury is unlikely to improve, the CM will request the Psychological Consultant to confirm that the worker has reached their Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
15. If the Psychological Consultant determines that the worker has reached their MMI, HCS will arrange a Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI) Mental Health Assessment with a doctorial psychologist who has experience providing DSM diagnoses and determining scores associated with the following scales:
    1. Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale.
    2. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).
    3. Psychiatric Impairment Rating Scale (PIRS).
16. The doctorial psychologist will:
    1. Perform the PFI Mental Health Assessment in accordance with POL 23/2010, Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI) – General, and
    2. Determine GAF, BPRS and PIRS scores.
17. The Psychological Consultant will review the file, including the PFI Mental Health Assessment, and provide a PFI rating.

Critical Incident Response Information Sessions

18. To address and respond to the emotional and psychological consequences resulting from exposure to or witnessing a traumatic workplace incident, the WCB offers post-incident response information sessions.
19. After a traumatic workplace event, WCB staff will inform employers that an information session with a psychologist can be arranged. The employer will notify WCB if there are workers requiring a session.
20. WCB’s HCS staff will determine what an appropriate response is in consultation with a WCB Medical Officer and/or Psychological Consultant and will complete any needed referrals with a WCB approved psychologist.
21. The purpose of any post-incident response information session is to focus on the well-being of the worker(s). Non-incident related emotional issues or labour relations concerns are not discussed during a session.