Personal injury psychiatric IMEs and Defense Medical Evaluations

IME or DME — same examination, different framing

In personal injury practice, the same psychiatric examination is called an IME when retained by plaintiff counsel (typically to support the psychiatric component of damages) and a DME when retained by defense counsel (typically to challenge the claimant’s asserted psychiatric injury or apportion it to pre-existing causes). The methodology, report structure, and reporting standards are the same.

Dr. Cichon is a regular contractor for IME West on TBI and PTSD defense cases in California and Nevada, and is also retained independently by both plaintiff and defense firms.

Case types accepted

• Traumatic brain injury, concussion, and post-concussive syndrome — the subspecialty area
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, and trauma-related conditions
• Depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders following an injury event
• Psychiatric component of chronic pain syndromes
• Apportionment between pre-existing psychiatric conditions and post-injury sequelae
• Symptom validity, malingering assessment, and credibility analysis
• Capacity evaluations following acquired brain injury

Neuropsychiatric option for head-injury cases

For head-injury cases, the standalone IME / DME can be expanded into a full neuropsychiatric examination incorporating EEG Brainview, comparative cognitive testing against normative populations (age, psychiatric baseline, TBI), and clinical psychiatric evaluation under one TBI-board-certified examiner. This is especially useful when the case turns on distinguishing TBI sequelae from pre-existing psychiatric baseline or from claimed but non-organic complaints.

Geographic coverage

In-person examinations across Nevada (practice address: 2660 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas). Telemedicine examinations available in California, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming. In-person travel to California available for substantial matters.

Engagement

Personal injury and civil engagements are billed to the requesting party. Lien arrangements with personal injury counsel are considered case-by-case. We do not accept insurance.

Contact the practice with the case caption, jurisdiction, and the specific psychiatric questions counsel needs addressed. We’ll respond within one to two business days with scheduling and engagement terms.