CICA Psychological Reports for PTSD, C-PTSD and Disabling Mental Injury
Independent psychological assessments and reports for Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims, reviews and appeals.
I provide independent psychological assessments and reports for adults making CICA claims involving trauma, PTSD, Complex PTSD, sexual abuse, rape, assault, domestic abuse, coercive control, historic abuse and other crimes of violence.
A CICA psychological report may be helpful where psychological injury needs to be clearly assessed and documented, including diagnosis, symptom severity, functional impairment, prognosis, treatment needs and, where appropriate, the relationship between the crime of violence and the person’s current psychological presentation.
I work with individuals, solicitors and referrers. Reports are prepared as independent clinical documents, not advocacy letters. I do not provide court attendance or oral evidence.
Why a Clinical Psychologist’s Report May Be Needed
CICA mental injury claims require clear clinical evidence. For psychological injury, the Scheme usually requires evidence of a disabling mental injury, lasting for the required period, and diagnosed or confirmed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
This is why a brief therapy letter, GP note, counselling summary or self-report questionnaire alone may not be sufficient where the central issue is PTSD, Complex PTSD, functional impairment, prognosis or the extent of trauma-related psychological injury.
Why This Report Is Different
This is not a brief therapy letter, screening summary or general statement of distress. My psychological reports are designed to provide structured clinical evidence, careful diagnostic formulation and clear recommendations where trauma-related psychological injury needs to be properly understood.
- Independent psychological assessment by a HCPC-registered Chartered Clinical Psychologist
- Structured clinical interview and diagnostic formulation
- Validated psychometric measures where clinically appropriate
- CAPS-5 assessment for PTSD where clinically indicated
- ITI assessment for ICD-11 PTSD and C-PTSD where clinically indicated
- Consideration of functional impairment, treatment needs and prognosis
- Opinion on the relationship between trauma and current psychological presentation where appropriate
- Clear, clinically defensible written psychological report
- Reports commonly 12–25 pages in more complex cases, depending on documentation and clinical complexity
What a CICA Psychological Report May Address
Depending on the clinical question, the instruction and the documentation available, a CICA psychological report may address:
- Reason for referral and purpose of the report
- Documents reviewed, where applicable
- Relevant personal, developmental, trauma and mental health history
- Current psychological symptoms and their severity
- Assessment of PTSD and/or Complex PTSD where clinically indicated
- Assessment of depression, anxiety, dissociation or other trauma-related difficulties where relevant
- Psychometric assessment results
- Functional impact on work, study, relationships, sleep, concentration, self-care, parenting and daily life
- Treatment history and treatment needs
- Prognosis
- Recommendations for trauma-focused therapy, EMDR, psychiatric consultation or further support where appropriate
- Opinion on the relationship between the crime of violence and current psychological presentation where clinically appropriate
- Summary and conclusions
PTSD, C-PTSD and CICA Claims
Many CICA matters involve trauma symptoms that may meet criteria for PTSD or Complex PTSD. PTSD may involve re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, changes in mood and cognition, and a continuing sense of threat. Complex PTSD may also involve emotional dysregulation, persistent shame or negative self-beliefs, and difficulties in relationships.
Where clinically indicated, I may use the CAPS-5, a gold-standard structured clinical interview for PTSD assessment, rather than relying only on a self-report measure such as the PCL-5.
Where Complex PTSD is clinically relevant, I may use the International Trauma Interview, or ITI, a specialist clinician-administered interview for ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD. This allows for a more careful diagnostic assessment than relying only on a self-report measure such as the ITQ.
When a CICA Psychological Report May Be Useful
A CICA psychological report may be useful where the psychological impact of a crime has not yet been formally assessed, where existing evidence is too brief, where PTSD or C-PTSD has been suggested, or where a claim, review or appeal requires clearer clinical evidence.
Reports may be particularly relevant in cases involving:
- sexual abuse or sexual assault
- rape or attempted rape
- domestic abuse or coercive control
- historic childhood abuse
- violent assault
- trauma-related PTSD or Complex PTSD
- dissociation, shame, emotional dysregulation or relational difficulty following trauma
- difficulty working, studying, parenting, sleeping, concentrating or maintaining daily life after trauma
- CICA review or appeal where psychological injury has been rejected, under-recognised or insufficiently evidenced
Time Limits and Urgent Deadlines
CICA claims, reviews and appeals may be subject to strict deadlines. If you are seeking a psychological assessment or report for a CICA claim, review or appeal, please include any relevant decision letter date, appeal deadline or solicitor deadline in your enquiry.
In many cases, CICA applications are expected to be made within the relevant time limit after the incident, although exceptions may apply in some circumstances. Review and appeal deadlines can also be short, so it is important to allow enough time for clinical assessment, psychometric measures, records review where appropriate, diagnostic formulation and report writing.
I will advise whether a proposed timescale is clinically and practically realistic. This information is not legal advice; please consult CICA, a solicitor or an appropriate legal adviser about your specific deadline.
Assessment Process
- Initial enquiry
Please send a brief outline of the matter, including whether this is an initial CICA claim, review or appeal, whether there is a solicitor involved, and whether any relevant deadline applies. - Review of suitability and scope
I will consider whether the assessment falls within my area of expertise, whether the timescale is realistic, and whether the report requested is clinically appropriate. - Agreement and payment
For self-funding clients, payment is due upon signing. Solicitor-funded or third-party funded assessments can be discussed in advance. - Questionnaires and records
Where appropriate, psychometric measures may be sent in advance and should be completed before the clinical assessment. Relevant records, decision letters or previous reports may also be reviewed where included within the agreed scope. - Clinical assessment
The assessment is usually conducted over a 90–120 minute appointment, either in person at 4 Devonshire Street in the Harley Street Medical District or online where clinically appropriate. - Written report
Reports are usually completed within approximately seven business days after the assessment, provided all relevant documentation and questionnaires have been received. More complex cases or substantial documentation may require a longer timeframe.
Fee
CICA Assessment and Psychological Report
Includes clinical assessment, relevant psychometric measures, diagnostic formulation and written psychological report.
More complex cases involving substantial records, appeal analysis, complex diagnostic questions or broader medico-legal issues may be quoted individually.
For Solicitors and Referrers
I accept selected instructions from solicitors and referrers where a clinical psychologist’s opinion is needed in relation to CICA mental injury, PTSD, C-PTSD, functional impairment, treatment needs, prognosis or appeal evidence.
Please include the relevant clinical question, any deadlines, available records, CICA decision letters where applicable, previous psychological or psychiatric reports, and whether the report is required for an initial claim, review or appeal.
I do not provide court attendance or oral evidence, and I do not provide psychiatric diagnosis, medication recommendations or psychiatric expert opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a psychological report for a CICA claim?
A psychological report may be helpful where the claim involves PTSD, Complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, dissociation, sexual abuse, assault, domestic abuse or another trauma-related mental injury. It may be particularly important where psychological injury needs to be formally diagnosed and its functional impact documented.
Can a clinical psychologist diagnose PTSD or C-PTSD for CICA?
Yes. A clinical psychologist can assess and diagnose PTSD, Complex PTSD and related trauma presentations using clinical interview, validated measures, diagnostic criteria and professional formulation.
Is this the same as a therapy letter?
No. A CICA psychological report is more structured than a brief therapy letter. It is based on assessment, clinical formulation, psychometric findings where relevant, diagnosis, functional impact, treatment recommendations and prognosis.
Can the assessment be completed online?
Many assessments can be completed online where clinically appropriate. In-person appointments are also available at 4 Devonshire Street in the Harley Street Medical District.
How quickly can a report be completed?
Reports are usually completed within approximately seven business days after the assessment, provided all relevant information has been received. More complex cases, substantial records or urgent deadlines should be discussed at the point of enquiry. If you are facing a tight deadline, please let us know at the time of enquiry, and we will do everything we can to accommodate this.
Making a CICA Report Enquiry
To enquire about a CICA psychological assessment and report, please contact:
assistant@comfortshieldspractice.com
Please include, where possible:
- whether this is an initial CICA claim, review or appeal;
- any relevant deadline or decision letter date;
- whether you are enquiring personally, through a solicitor or as a referrer;
- whether PTSD, C-PTSD or another diagnosis has already been suggested;
- whether there are medical records, police records, CICA decision letters or previous reports available;
- whether the assessment is needed for personal, therapeutic, compensation, insurance, occupational or formal documentation purposes.
All enquiries are handled personally and in strict confidence.
