Sociomedical assessment: basics of assessment in general and specifically in the case of fatigue and burnout
The sociomedical report is an essential basis for making decisions about benefits from social insurance providers. As an instrument of medical information, the sociomedical assessment can be based on very different questions, such as the question of ability to work, earning capacity, participation in professional or social life, or the need for medical treatment. It is important to obtain a comprehensive picture of the individual situation in order to create the basis for decisions about benefit entitlements and support measures. The various issues in the respective sociolegal context may require not only the sociomedical report but also other expertise.
The international classification of functioning, disability, and health (
ICF) and the World Health Organization (
WHO) bio-psycho-social model on which it is based enable health problems and their effects to be considered in the context of life and work. The components of functional ability and disability are assessed in their interaction from a sociomedical perspective. What is important is not the diagnosis but rather the person and the individual impact of the health disorders on their activities and participation.
In the case of fatigue and burnout, a medical symptom complex with (psychophysical) exhaustion and the resulting attention and concentration disorders are in the focus of the sociomedical assessment. It can be difficult to objectify symptoms and complaints in these diseases, which can lead to particular challenges during assessment, especially when validating complaints.
