Psychiatric Independent Medical Evaluations (IME)

A psychiatric independent medical evaluation (IME) is an objective assessment by a psychiatrist who is not treating the person, used to answer questions about diagnosis, causation, impairment and work capacity in a claim or lawsuit. Dr. Sanya Virani performs psychiatric IMEs in Indianapolis, Lakewood, WA and by video for insurers, employers, attorneys and claims administrators.

Common IME questions

  • Does the person have a psychiatric diagnosis, and what is it?
  • Was the condition caused or worsened by the incident or workplace event?
  • What functional limitations, if any, result from it?
  • Can the person return to work, with or without restrictions?
  • Has the person reached maximum medical improvement?
  • Is current treatment reasonable and necessary?

Claim types

  • Workers' compensation psychiatric claims
  • Short- and long-term disability
  • Personal injury and emotional distress
  • Medical malpractice (psychiatric injury)
  • Employment and harassment claims

The process

  1. Referral letter with the specific questions.
  2. Records review of medical, psychiatric, employment and claim records.
  3. Examination of 2 to 4 hours, in person or by secure video.
  4. Psychological testing, including validity measures, when indicated.
  5. Written report answering each question with the basis for each opinion.

Why Dr. Virani

Triple board certification (general, forensic and addiction psychiatry), forensic fellowship training at Brown, and a public health degree from the University of Minnesota. Substance use is common in psychiatric claims, and her addiction training lets her address it directly instead of referring it out.

What makes an IME report hold up

  • Every referral question is restated and answered
  • All records reviewed are listed
  • Diagnoses follow current DSM criteria, with reasoning shown
  • Causation opinions weigh pre-existing conditions and other stressors
  • Symptom validity and effort are assessed, not assumed
  • Opinions are stated to a reasonable degree of medical certainty

Timeline

After records arrive, examinations are usually scheduled within a few weeks. Reports are delivered on an agreed timeline, and urgent deadlines can often be accommodated. Supplemental reports and record reviews without examination are also available.

About Dr. Virani

Dr. Sanya Virani, MD, MPH, FAPA, is triple board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. She completed her forensic psychiatry fellowship at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and her addiction psychiatry fellowship at Yale School of Medicine, and is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. Full credentials.

Frequently asked questions

What is a psychiatric IME?

It is an independent evaluation by a psychiatrist who is not treating the person, used to answer questions about diagnosis, causation, impairment and ability to work in an insurance, disability, workers' compensation or legal claim.

Who pays for a psychiatric IME?

The party that requests the evaluation, usually an insurer, employer, claims administrator or attorney, pays for it.

How long is a psychiatric IME report?

Reports vary with the complexity of the questions and records, and are written to answer each referral question with the reasoning behind it.

Can a psychiatric IME be done by video?

Yes, when the referring party and jurisdiction allow it. In-person examinations are available in Indianapolis and Lakewood, WA.

What is the difference between an IME and treatment?

An IME creates no doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Virani does not treat the person she evaluates, and the report goes to the party that requested it.

Do you provide record reviews without an examination?

Yes. When an in-person or video examination is not possible or not requested, Dr. Virani can provide a records-only review that answers the referral questions and clearly states the limitations of an opinion formed without examining the person.

Do you evaluate claims involving substance use?

Yes. As a board-certified addiction psychiatrist, Dr. Virani addresses whether alcohol or drug use contributed to the claimed condition, whether a workplace event led to relapse, and how substance use affects prognosis and work capacity.

Request an evaluation

Attorneys, courts, employers and licensing boards can call (463) 282-7235, email sv@forensicsandaddiction.com, or book a free 15-minute intro call. Expert witness time is billed at $475 per hour. Evaluations are available in person in Indianapolis and Lakewood, WA, and by secure video where the jurisdiction allows.

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