CICA claims expert witness reports

Conditions and presentations

• Adjustment disorder

  Where symptoms fall short of a full PTSD or depressive diagnosis.

• Alcohol and substance misuse

  Where it has developed or worsened as a coping response.

• Complex PTSD

  Following repeated or sustained interpersonal trauma.

• Depressive disorder

  Reactive and recurrent depression following the index offence.

• Dissociative disorders

  Including depersonalisation and dissociative amnesia.

• Eating disorders

  Onset or relapse following sexual assault.

• First-tier tribunal addenda

  For appeals against CICA decisions on diagnosis or severity.

• Generalised anxiety and panic

  Including agoraphobia and avoidance affecting daily function.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

  Including delayed-onset and complex presentations following prolonged abuse.

• Prolonged grief disorder

  After bereavement caused by violent crime.

• Sexual dysfunction

  Where attributable to the index offence.

• Sleep disorders

  Persistent insomnia and trauma-related nightmares.

• Specific phobias

  Frequently arising after assault or robbery.

• Tariff-band severity assessment

  Mapping symptoms and duration to CICA mental injury bands.

Typical questions for the expert

• Does the applicant have a diagnosable mental injury attributable to the incident?
• How severe is the disorder and how long is it likely to last?
• Has the applicant complied with treatment, and what is the prognosis?

Reports provided

CICA-format psychiatric report addressing diagnosis, causation, severity, duration, treatment, and prognosis.

Experts owe their primary duty to the court under CPR Part 35 and equivalent procedural rules.

Related practice areas

Cases in this area often overlap with our work on personal injury and civil litigation, criminal proceedings, and family and child proceedings. You may also want to read our full list of practice areas.