Depression / Anxiety Disorder Disability Insurance Benefits Claim
View Disability Cases Involving Depression / Anxiety Disorder Disability Insurance Benefits Claim
Disability insurance carriers often challenge a diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety. How Can Disability Insurance Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Assist You?
As disability insurance attorneys, Dell & Schaefer have represented numerous long term disability claimants that have been unable to work as a result of suffering from either depression or anxiety. Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer have an expansive understanding of the significant restrictions and limitations that a person with depression must live with on a daily basis. We have worked closely with top physicians in order to sufficiently satisfy a disability carrier’s threshold of evidence necessary to prove that a client is disabled by depression.
Not everyone suffering with depression qualifies for long-term disability benefits, therefore the records of each client must be reviewed to determine the level of restrictions. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your long-term disability claim. You can contact us for a free initial consultation.
One of the most difficult disabling conditions to prove is depression or anxiety. These disability claims are difficult and often challenged because there is no objective test that can prove a person is depressed. A person that is diagnosed with depression usually looks normal on the exterior, however their ability to function and perform in a work environment with reasonable continuity is severely limited. In a disability claim, the insurance company will rely on a hired psychologist or psychiatrist in order to determine if the claimant has restrictions and limitations caused by depression or anxiety. Often, a claimant’s treating psychologist or psychiatrist does not take great office notes and the insurance company will state that the claimant’s doctor has not documented any restrictions or limitations.
We also see disability companies argue that if your depression was so debilitating why wasn’t the claimant hospitalized. Lastly, the disability carriers will sometimes arrange for the claimant to submit to a two day neuropsychological examination and another exam with a forensic psychiatrist. 8 out 10 times these hired guns will find the claimant is not disabled and can return to work. Claimants need to be aware that most ERISA governed disability policies and many individual disability policies will limit mental nervous claims to two years of benefits only.
What is depression?
Depression is one of the most common psychological problems. One in six Americans has been diagnosed with depression. Depression is a chronic medical illness that doesn’t just affect the mind but also the body, affecting how you think, feel and behave. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression and there several distinct types of depression including:
- Major Depressive disorder
- Dysthymic disorder
- Manic depression
- Atypical depression
- Chronic depression
- Double depression
- Endogenous depression
- Situational depression or Reactive depression
- Agitated depression
- Psychotic depression
- Melacholic depression
- Catatonic depression
- Post-partum depression
Depression can also co-exist with other illnesses. Depression has been found to occur at a higher rate among people who have other serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV, diabetes, and Parkinson’s.
Substance use disorders also frequently co-occur with depressive disorders. Research has revealed that people with alcoholism are almost twice as likely as those without alcoholism to suffer from major depression.
Research also suggests that recognition and treatment of co-occurring depression may improve the outcome of medical conditions, enhance quality of life, and reduce the degree of pain and disability experienced by the patient.
How the symptoms of depression can affect you
Depression can interfere with a person’s ability to function normally, and can cause problems in every aspect of a person’s life including work, school and personal relationships.
Common signs and symptoms of depression may include: a loss of interest in a persons normal activities, a persistent feeling of sadness, insomnia, significant weight loss or gain, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Other symptoms of depression can include slowed thinking, indecisiveness, distractibility, decreased concentration, fatigue and loss of energy that make even the smallest tasks seem overwhelming.
For those suffering from depression, there are several treatments available. Medications and psychotherapy, either alone or in combination, are the most common forms of depression treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy ECT and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are also used to treat depression but are generally only administered when other treatments have failed or when medication might endanger the person’s health.
Resources
There are many valuable sources of depression information available. You can also access resources over the internet such as:
There are numerous charities dedicated to depression research and treatment including:
- NARSAD The Brain & Behavior Research Fund
- NAMI National Alliance On Mental Illness
- American Foundation For Suicide Prevention
- Mental health America
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Disability benefits cases involving Depression:
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