Impairment · 2005 PDRS Section 2
Psychiatric & mental health: PD rating
Mental and behavioral impairment, rated from the GAF score (subject to the SB 863 compensability limits). These arrive directly as a whole-person impairment (WPI) percentage.
WPI → PD rating
Example — a 15% WPI psychiatric impairment: 15 × 1.4 = 21 standard rating (DOI ≥ 2013), before the occupational and age adjustments.
The occupational and age steps and the final dollar figure depend on the specific job and birth date — the calculator computes them exactly.
How the psychiatric rating scale works: the evaluator reports a GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning) score, and the 2005 schedule’s own conversion table turns it into whole-person impairment — a GAF of 70 or above converts to 0% WPI, with lower scores stepping the WPI up. The impairment files under number 14.01.00.00 and runs the standard pipeline (the 1.4 adjustment, occupational variant, age). For dates of injury on or after 1/1/2013, Labor Code §4660.1(c) limits when a psychiatric add-on to a physical injury is compensable. Convert any score instantly with the free GAF-to-WPI calculator.
Impairments in this system · 1
Psychiatric - Mental and Behavioral
Psychiatric rating FAQ
How is a psychiatric & mental health injury rated for permanent disability in California?
These arrive directly as a whole-person impairment (WPI) percentage. The WPI is multiplied by 1.4 to get the standard rating (dates of injury on or after 2013 under SB 863), then adjusted for the worker’s occupation and age, apportioned under Lab. Code §4663, and combined with any other impairments. Example — a 15% WPI psychiatric impairment: 15 × 1.4 = 21 standard rating (DOI ≥ 2013), before the occupational and age adjustments.
What body parts are in the Psychiatric & mental health section of the PDRS?
The 2005 PDRS lists 1 impairment here. Mental and behavioral impairment, rated from the GAF score (subject to the SB 863 compensability limits).
Does the occupation change a psychiatric & mental health rating?
Yes — after the ×1.4 step, the occupational group applies a variant that raises or lowers the standard rating. See the occupation pages for how each group treats this region.
Is this a legal PD rating?
No — it’s an estimate for informational use. Confirm every rating against the DEU. RateString rates strict AMA Guides 5th-edition values under the 2005 PDRS.
What a psychiatric rating pays
This impairment at 10% WPI across three occupations — the variant does the moving:
| Final PD | Total @ 2026 max | |
|---|
| Clerical (group 111)grp 111 | 21% | $23,345 | |
| Custodian (group 340)grp 340 | 12% | $11,093 | |
| Carpenter (group 380)grp 380 | 19% | $20,445 | |
Computed live by the rating engine — 10% WPI, age 42–46, single impairment, no apportionment, dollars at the 2026 maximum PD rate. Run any combination in the calculator.
Rate this impairment — free
Enter the WPI, occupation, and age — get a defensible PD rating and indemnity in under a minute.