Psychological injury after adverse events
I assess and report on the psychological impact of sudden, frightening or distressing events on adults and children, for personal injury claims before the Injuries Resolution Board and the courts. Reports are independent, evidence-based and set out diagnosis, causation, severity, prognosis and treatment in a format that is easy to read and easy to rely on.
Events I assess
- Road traffic collisions, as driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist
- Accidents at work, including falls, machinery injuries and witnessed incidents
- Accidents in public places, shops and schools
- Dog attacks, fires, floods and other frightening events
- Witnessed injury to a family member
- Historical abuse and illegal adoption, in civil claims and redress schemes
I confine my practice to civil matters. I do not accept instructions in criminal proceedings, and I do not assess injuries arising from assault or other violent crime.
What the report covers
- Whether the person meets criteria for a recognised psychological injury (for example post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, depression, or a specific phobia such as travel anxiety) using DSM-5-TR and ICD-11
- Severity, measured with standardised questionnaires and reported in plain terms (mild, moderate, serious, severe)
- Causation: whether the event caused the difficulty, aggravated a pre-existing condition, or neither, with the relevant medical and personal history set out
- Prognosis and expected recovery time, and where full recovery is unlikely, the residual symptoms and their effect on work, study, driving and family life
- Treatment recommendations, limited to evidence-based therapies delivered by registered practitioners, with an estimate of sessions needed
After a car accident
Reactions to a road traffic collision range from brief upset to long-lasting distress. Common difficulties include travel anxiety, avoidance of driving or of the road where it happened, intrusive memories, sleep disturbance and irritability. The first port of call is the GP. Where symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, or where a claim is being made, a specialist psychological assessment gives the claim a reliable, quantified account of the injury. Care is taken to ensure that the person is treated with respect and dignity throughout.
Adults, children and young people
Most of the people I assess are adults. Children react to adverse events differently from adults, and the effects can show up in behaviour, school and sleep rather than in what the child says. I assess children of all ages with a parent or guardian present, using age-appropriate measures, and I report on the impact on the child and on the family. See Assessing children.
How the assessment runs
The same four steps as every assessment: emailed referral; online assessment form and questionnaires; secure video interview (usually Tuesday evening); report about one week later. Fixed fee, quoted on enquiry. Details for solicitors are on the For solicitors page.
To instruct or refer
Email info@amckiernan.ie. Enquiries are answered promptly, typically within 24 hours. All instructions are taken in writing so that there is a clear record from the first contact.