The claimant’s vehicle was stationary at a traffic intersection when it was rear ended by another vehicle, pushing the claimant’s vehicle into the rear of the vehicle ahead of it. The claimant’s vehicle was towed away from the scene and subsequently “written off”. The claimant described a brief period of disorientation directly following the collision, however managed to alight unassisted from the vehicle within two or three minutes. An ambulance arrived and conveyed the claimant to hospital. The claimant recalled experiencing pain on the left side of the neck and in the lower back on the way to the hospital.
The claimant was kept overnight in hospital for observation. The claimant underwent a physical examination and x-rays were taken.
The claimant subsequently consulted with a general practitioner due to ongoing significant pain. The claimant was treated with analgesic medication and referred for eight sessions of physiotherapy.
The claimant did not return to fulltime work after the accident due to persistent pain. Consequently, the claimant began to experience financial difficulty and worried about being unable to meet financial commitments. This led to increased anxiety. The claimant reported stress, depression and an impeded ability to sleep.
The claimant was then referred to a psychiatrist by a general practitioner. The psychiatrist prescribed psychotropic medication, which the claimant used for a period of one month, however experienced no beneficial clinical effects.
The claimant demonstrated no evidence of delusions, hallucinations or disorder of thought form. Cognitive function was intact, while insight and judgement were fair. There were no themes of guilt in thought context, however spoke of some feelings of hopelessness.
The claimant did not report symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Medical certificates issued by the general practitioner state diagnosis of back pain after the motor accident and depression.
No specific psychological or psychiatric reports were provided.
The claimant described symptomatology most consistent with a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood. The number and severity of the mood symptoms is not supportive of a diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode.
As in the diagnosis and reasons above, the claimant only meets the criteria for an Adjustment Disorder and not for any specific psychiatric disorder. The Adjustment Disorder with anxiety DSM F43.22 is a minor injury.