Is nervous shock a Recognised psychiatric illness?

Asked by: Miss Maximillia Collins DVM | Last update: February 9, 2026

Score: 4.8/5 (30 votes)

Yes, "nervous shock" refers to a medically recognised psychiatric illness or injury, not just normal emotional distress, that results from a traumatic event, such as PTSD, clinical depression, or anxiety disorders, and is actionable in law when it meets specific criteria, requiring expert medical proof beyond mere grief or upset.

Is shock a recognised psychiatric illness?

The law has always distinguished 'recognised psychological illnesses' from shock, fear, anxiety or grief which are regarded as 'normal emotional consequences' and for which damages have never been awarded.

Is anxiety a recognised psychiatric illness?

Examples of clinically recognised mental disorders include mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety or depression, as well as personality disorders, eating disorders, autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities.

What are recognised psychiatric illness?

Some of the most common types include: Anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia and generalized anxiety disorders. Mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder (manic depression) Neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism.

What is nervous shock?

Nervous shock is the onset of a psychiatric illness caused by witnessing the negligent action, or the results thereof, of another. For the purposes of succeeding in a suit it must be diagnosed as more than grief or sorrow i.e. an actual psychiatric illness. Nicholas N Chin says that the nervous shock “. . .

Tort Law: Nervous Shock/Psychiatric Illness

29 related questions found

What is intentionally causing nervous shock?

Intentionally inflicted nervous shock

An example of this is a bad practical joke played on someone which triggered serious depression in that person, the other person emotional distress and will be liable for the medical consequences.

What is neurological shock?

Neurogenic shock is a critical condition that results from the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system following spinal cord injury, especially in the cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae above the T6 level, as a result of traumatic events.

What qualifies as a psychiatric illness?

Overview. Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

What is the limitation period for nervous shock?

A three year limitation period is imposed in relation to commencement of court proceedings, which runs from the date of the relevant event.

What medical conditions can mimic psychiatric illness?

Six Diseases Often Mistaken for Mental Disorders

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ...
Lyme Disease. ...
Thyroid Disorder. ...
Syphilis. ...
Obstructive Sleep Apnea. ...
Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Is anxiety considered a serious mental illness?

Anxiety disorders can cause overwhelming fear or the complete inability to deal with a given situation, for no apparent reason. Sometimes anxiety disorders can cause fear so intense it totally disables its victims. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses, and they are also the most treatable.

What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?

There isn't one single "#1 worst" habit, but procrastination/avoidance, lack of sleep, negative self-talk, and excessive caffeine/poor diet are consistently cited as major drivers that intensify anxiety by creating a cycle of stress, worry, and poor coping. These habits often feed into each other, making it harder to manage anxious feelings, with procrastination often stemming from anxiety and then worsening it further.

What is the hardest anxiety disorder to treat?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition where you feel excessive worry about everyday situations. It happens often and may be hard to manage.

How is nervous shock proven in court?

Causation – There must be a direct causal link between the shocking event and the plaintiff's psychiatric illness. Actual or Apprehended Injury – The plaintiff's condition must arise from either witnessing actual injury to another person or fearing injury to themselves or someone close to them.

Is stress a recognised psychiatric illness?

Stress is not classed as a medical condition. But it can still be serious and cause, or make worse, other mental health conditions.

Is emotional distress the same as nervous shock?

How is nervous shock different from emotional distress? Nervous shock is a specific psychiatric condition often linked to trauma, while emotional distress can encompass a broader range of psychological suffering.

What is the compensation for nervous shock?

By pursuing a nervous shock claim, you may be able to recover compensation for: Medical treatment and therapy costs. Loss of income or earning capacity. Pain and suffering related to your psychological injury.

What is the hardest element to prove in a medical malpractice case?

The hardest element to prove in a medical malpractice case is causation, which requires showing the healthcare provider's specific negligent act directly caused the patient's injury, a challenge often complicated by complex medical records, pre-existing conditions, and the need for strong expert testimony to link the breach of duty to the harm. While establishing the standard of care and its breach is also difficult, proving that the mistake, and not something else, was the direct cause of injury is frequently the biggest hurdle, even if negligence is evident.

Is anxiety considered a psychiatric disability?

Under the ADA, the term "disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual. Moreover, the ADA's definition of a mental impairment includes any emotional or mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders.

What are the 5 D's of mental illness?

The "5 Ds of mental illness" are a framework for understanding abnormal behavior, typically including Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Duration, and Danger, used by clinicians to determine if a pattern of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors crosses the line from normal human experience to a diagnosable disorder, often adding Duration, Degree, or sometimes even Disability to the common Four Ds (Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Danger). These criteria help assess if symptoms are significantly outside cultural norms (Deviance), cause significant suffering (Distress), impair daily life (Dysfunction), persist over time (Duration), and pose a risk to self or others (Danger).

What is considered a major psychiatric illness?

Serious mental illness (SMI) commonly refers to a diagnosis of psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, and either major depression with psychotic symptoms or treatment-resistant depression; SMI can also include anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders, if the degree of functional impairment is ...

What is a psychogenic shock?

PSYCHOGENIC SHOCK

• Caused by a sudden reaction of the nervous system which produces a temporary, generalized vascular dilation which results in fainting (syncope). • Some causes are serious and others are not.

What is nerve shock?

Neurogenic shock is a condition in which you have trouble keeping your heart rate, blood pressure and temperature stable because of damage to your nervous system after a spinal cord injury. Like other types of shock, this is a serious condition that can be fatal because your blood flow is too low.

What medications can cause neurogenic shock?

Drugs or medications that affect the autonomic and sympathetic nervous system such as beta blockers and antianxiety medications can cause neurogenic shock.