Disability: a new psychosocial perspective.

A previously disabled family member is presented as a psychosocial determinant in the subsequent disability of the patient. Eighty-three disabled patients presented for an independent medical examination of the upper extremity. All were seeking a workers' compensation settlement or continued workers' compensation benefits. Patients were questioned regarding the current disability of any family member(s). Forty-four of the 83 had at least one family member who was disabled and 36 had experienced a traumatic incident or injury resulting in workers' compensation. Forty-seven had no objective impairment. These findings suggest a significant correlation between the "disabled" support system and subsequent disability of the patient (P < .001).