Abstract: Objective To explore the methods to assess the function disorder of patients with mild psychiatric impairment due to road traffic accidents. Methods In contrast to that of the patient with physical impairment, the function disorder of the patient with mild psychiatric impairment was assessed by the standard assessment instruments, such as the Barthel index of ADL （BI）, Functional Activities Questionnaire （FAQ）, Social Disability Screening Schedule （SDSS）, Activity of Daily Living Scale （ADL）, Physical Self-maintenance Scale （PSMS）, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale （IADL）. Results Except BI, the each total score of FAQ, SDSS, ADL, PSMS, and IADL correlated well with the rank of psychiatric impairment. The difference of each total score of rating scales among different physical impairment rank was not statistically significant. At the impairment rank of level 10, the difference of each total score of FAQ and ADL was not significant between the two groups; each total score of BI, SDSS, and IADL in psychiatric impairment was higher than that of physical impairment, while the total score of PSMS in psychiatric impairment was lower than that of physical impairment. At the level 9, except PSMS, the each total score of BI, FAQ, SDSS, IADL and ADL in psychiatric impairment was higher than that of physical impairment. At the level 8, except BI and PSMS, the each total score of FAQ, SDSS, IADL and ADL in psychiatric impairment was higher than that of physical impairment. Conclusion The different criteria for assessment of mild psychiatric and physical impairment may exist, and appropriate indexes for assessment between physical and psychiatric impairment need to be further elucidated.

Key words: forensic psychiatry, accidents, traffic, psychiatric impairment