COMPENSATION NEUROSIS REVISITED - OUTCOME STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF LITIGATION

Although the term 'compensation neurosis' has been frequently used to describe personal injury litigants, its clinical validity-and the assu mptions about individuals described by this label-have not been critic ally examined. This article reviews the concept of 'compensation neuro sis' and follow-up studies of claimants for compensation following the finalisation of their legal proceedings. A follow-up study of 760 lit igants found that, of the 264 subjects who were not working at the tim e of conclusion of litigation and who could be traced, 198 (75%) were not working after an average of 23 months following the finalization o f their cases.