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Applying the ICF in Disability Evaluation: A Report Based on Clinical Experience

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Handbook of Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Evaluation

Part of the book series: Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability ((SHHDW))

Abstract

Transparent and objective disability evaluation is particularly challenging in the case of mental disorders. The application of the Mini-ICF-APP, an ICF-based assessment tool developed for capturing activity and participation limitations in persons with mental disorders, promises to increase the transparency and objectivity of disability evaluation in the context of social insurance benefits eligibility. The present chapter discusses the background of the introduction of the Mini-ICF-APP in a Swiss disability evaluation facility, provides a brief case description of how the tool is currently being applied, and presents basic descriptive data based on four psychiatrists assessing 447 persons. It is concluded that the tool appears apt to increase the transparency and comparability of disability evaluations by providing clear operationalized definitions and by forcing the medical expert to relate the work capacity assessment to the requirements of the claimant’s former job and adapted new jobs. Limitations of the tool and the need for further research in the present context are also briefly highlighted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MEDAS Zentralschweiz, Hirschengraben 33, 6003, Lucerne, Switzerland

    Jörg Jeger

  2. Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland

    Bruno Trezzini & Urban Schwegler

  3. Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

    Urban Schwegler

Authors
  1. Jörg Jeger
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  2. Bruno Trezzini
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  3. Urban Schwegler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jörg Jeger .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA

    Reuben Escorpizo

  2. Research Unit, Directorate for Labour and Welfare, Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Sören Brage

  3. Department of Rehabilitation and Counsel, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, USA

    Debra Homa

  4. Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Luzern, Switzerland

    Gerold Stucki

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Jeger, J., Trezzini, B., Schwegler, U. (2015). Applying the ICF in Disability Evaluation: A Report Based on Clinical Experience. In: Escorpizo, R., Brage, S., Homa, D., Stucki, G. (eds) Handbook of Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Evaluation. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08825-9_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08825-9_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-08824-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08825-9

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