Medical Opinion Forms for Mental Disorders
In order to be found disabled for a mental disorder such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, the Social Security Administration will consider whether your impairment is medically determinable and to what degree it limits your ability to work. The Listing of Impairments for mental disorders is arranged into nine categories: organic mental disorders; schizophrenic, paranoid, and other psychotic disorders; affective disorders; mental retardation; anxiety-related disorders; somatoform disorders; personality disorders; substance addiction disorders; and autism and other pervasive developmental disorders.
Medical opinion forms in your case seeking Social Security disability benefits for depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental disorder should be filled out by acceptable medical sources such as your treating doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist. Such forms can save time for your doctor and your Social Security disability attorney. The information from these forms will help the Social Security Administration determine if your disability meets Listing 12.00 for Mental Disorders in the Listing of Impairments and to determine your residual functional capacity.
Sometimes, your doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist will not have all the information needed to fill out a Social Security disability medical form for depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental disorder, but it can be helpful for your attorney to know what your doctor does not know in addition to what he or she does know. It is better for your doctor to indicate that he or she does not know the answer to a question about your mental disorder than to leave it blank.
