When an employee of the Federal Government such as a Postal Worker, IRS Worker, or Military Support Services becomes injured they are immediately flung into an arena which is dark and confusing.  Most injured workers are not aware of how complex and how diversified the system is.  Most practitioners do not accept or work within the parameters of the Department of Labor, Federal Workers’ Compensation Program, (OWCP).  An injured worker is assigned a case worker who is marginally aware of their medical condition.  The injured worker is trying to interpret the regulations as are federally mandated. 

 When an individual has a severe physical injury, it is medically probable that they will also have a psychological trauma such as depression, anxiety, chronic, pain and insomnia.  All of which will decrease a person’s self-esteem.  These issues are in need of psychological treatment.  The first course of treatment should be Cognitive Behavior Therapy.  Treatment helps an individual understand their symptoms and the causes.  If in addition to therapy severe sleep disorders and clinical issues exists this raises the possibility of psychopharmacology being a supplemental treatment. 

 An injured worker must search out individuals to treat them so that they can remain functional in their families and eventually return to some gainful employment.  This is the role of a treating psychologist. Our function is to help an injured worker understand their limitations, disabilities, and learn to cope with those limitations.  It is necessary to provide substantial support while maneuvering through the complex medical/legal system.

 A Cognitive Behavior Therapist is a fundamental necessity in helping to manage pain.  The other alternative is to use pharmaceuticals which are marginally effective and most often have to be increased in dosage.  It is necessary for an injured worker to understand that in the Federal Workers’ Compensation System, chronic pain management is not considered a disability.  Psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and low self-esteem are compensable and approved for treatment.

 

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 27th, 2010 at 10:12 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.