Veterans Health CentreVeterans Health CentreExpert DVA Doctor
0429 146 039Book appointment

SoP Library › Schizophrenia

Statement of Principles

Schizophrenia — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Schizophrenia. DVA can only accept a claim for Schizophrenia if at least one of these factors is met and connected to your service. Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) applies to operational service; Balance of Probabilities (BoP) applies to peacetime service.

How a VHC DVA claim worksAll 357 SoPsBook appointment

Source: Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles as held by the Veterans Health Centre. SoPs are amended and replaced regularly; always confirm the current instrument at rma.gov.au before relying on it.

Schizophrenia

RH No. 83 of 2016 · BoP No. 84 of 201635 factors

Meaning of schizophrenia: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, schizophrenia means a disorder of mental health meeting the following diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5): A. Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period (or less if successfully treated), at least one being (i) , (ii) or (iii) : (i) delusions; (ii) hallucinations; (iii) disorganised speech (for example, frequent derailment or incoherence); (iv) grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour; or (v) negative symptoms (that is, diminished emotional expression or avolition). B. For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, level of functioning in one or more major areas of life, such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, is markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the onset is in childhood or adolescence, there is failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic or occupational functioning). C. Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months. This six-month period must include at least one month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A and may include perio

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 83 of 2016

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting schizophrenia or death from schizophrenia with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having experienced severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the six months before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the six months before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    experiencing the death of a related child within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: related child is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    experiencing the death of a parent within the ten years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia, where the person was aged less than 18 years at the time of the parent's death;
  6. (6)
    having substance use disorder, involving cannabis, within the 20 years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;
  7. (7)
    using cannabis at least twice a week for a continuous period of at least six months before the age of 18 years, within the 20 years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;
  8. (8)
    having alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder involving a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from Specified List 1 of drugs, within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: Specified List 1 of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    having viral meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, before the age of 16 years, where the clinical onset of schizophrenia occurs within the 15 years following the infection with that viral meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis;
  10. (10)
    having serological evidence of an infection from the specified list of infections within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: specified list of infections is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    having a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;
  12. (12)
    having a concussion within the six months before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;
  13. (13)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the six months before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the six months before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    experiencing the death of a related child within the five years before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: related child is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    being treated with a drug which results in the re-development or worsening of signs or symptoms of psychosis, where the treatment with the drug was undertaken for at least the two days before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;
  17. (17)
    taking a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from Specified List 2 of drugs within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: Specified List 2 of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  18. (18)
    having ceased, reduced or changed antipsychotic drug therapy, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;
  19. (19)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  20. (20)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for schizophrenia;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(13) to 9(20) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 84 of 2016

15 factors

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, schizophrenia or death from schizophrenia is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having experienced severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    experiencing the death of a related child within the two years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: related child is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having substance use disorder, involving cannabis, within the 20 years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;
  6. (6)
    using cannabis at least twice a week for a continuous period of at least two years before the age of 18 years, within the 20 years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;
  7. (7)
    having alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder involving a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from Specified List 1 of drugs, within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia;

    Note: Specified List 1 of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the three months before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    experiencing the death of a related child within the two years before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: related child is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    being treated with a drug which results in the re-development or worsening of signs or symptoms of psychosis, where the treatment with the drug was undertaken for at least the two days before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;
  12. (12)
    taking a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from Specified List 2 of drugs within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: Specified List 2 of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    having ceased, reduced or changed antipsychotic drug therapy, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;
  14. (14)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of schizophrenia;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for schizophrenia;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(8) to 9(15) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

A VHC Diagnostic Assessment addresses each of these factors one by one against your service record and clinical history. See how a VHC DVA claim works, see all fees ($600 + GST per stage) or book an appointment.

About Dr Thomas Perkins

One doctor. Every report.

Founding doctor of the Veterans Health Centre in Ipswich, Queensland, and one of Australia's most experienced practitioners in veterans' medicolegal medicine.

Dr Perkins has spent more than thirteen years working exclusively with current and former ADF members — treating their conditions, writing their reports and navigating the DVA system alongside them. With over 100,000 claims submitted and 2,000 Permanent Impairment Assessments completed, he has seen precisely what separates an accepted claim from a rejected one at every level, from initial liability to the Veterans' Review Board.

Every chart review, diagnostic assessment, impairment rating and appeal that leaves this clinic is personally overseen by Dr Perkins. No template, no locum, no hand-off.

0429 146 039 reception@vhc.org.au

Book appointment