Psychiatric disabilities are mental disorders that interfere with daily tasks and are protected under equal employment opportunity laws. Anxiety and mood disorders are common types, and medication side effects can also be considered a disability. Employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees with psychiatric disabilities.
A psychiatric disability is a psychological or mental disorder or condition that interferes with a person’s ability to perform otherwise routine tasks, such as attending school or performing job duties. This type of disability is often afforded many of the same legal protections as physical disabilities. There are several conditions that can be considered a disability and can include social impairments, such as those that cause anxiety and mood disorders. A psychiatric disability can also be the result of medications taken for a disorder and not necessarily be caused by the disorder itself.
Just like other types of disabilities, a psychiatric disability is generally considered to be a condition that prevents a person from performing various tasks they might otherwise be able to perform. In the United States, psychiatric disabilities are often recognized as part of equal employment opportunity, and people with disabilities of any kind cannot be legally discriminated against. These laws also state that an employee or student need not specifically identify their psychiatric disability, but instead may indicate how a medical condition or medical treatment affects their ability to perform certain activities.
Many different types of mental disorder can be considered a psychiatric disability, although anxiety disorders and mood disorders are among the most common. Anxiety disorders include those conditions that instill intense feelings of anxiety, fear and panic in a person when faced with certain situations. These include various phobias, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mood disorders are those conditions that can have frequent and dramatic effects on a person’s personality and mood. These types of psychiatric disabilities would include bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder.
While many psychological and mental conditions can create enough interference in a person’s life to be considered a psychiatric disability, the medications taken with many mental disorders can also create problems for a person. Many medications used to treat mental illnesses and disorders can cause side effects such as intense drowsiness, headaches, and dizziness. For example, someone who could drive a vehicle would be unable to do so while taking medications that can cause intense sleepiness. If this drug were needed to treat a mental illness, the side effects would be considered a psychiatric disability and he or she could not be fired due to this disability. A company should probably try to find another position for that person, which does not require the use of a vehicle.
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