{"id":"F2018L00205","name":"Statement of Principles concerning personality disorder (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2018)","slug":"statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":96828,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L00205-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Statement of Principles concerning personality disorder (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2018)","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms](image.001.png)\n\nStatement of Principles concerning personality disorder (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2018)\n\nmade under subsection 196B(2) of the\n\nVeterans' Entitlements Act 1986\n\nCompilation No. 1\n\nCompilation date: 24 September 2018\n\nIncludes amendments up to: Veterans' Entitlements (Statements of Principles—Category 1B Stressor) Amendment Determination 2018 (No. 87 of 2018) (F2018L01188)\n\nThe day of commencement of this Amendment Determination is 24 September 2018.\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis compilation\n\nThis is a compilation of the Statement of Principles concerning personality disorder (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2018) that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 24 September 2018.\n\nThe notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.\n\nUncommenced amendments\n\nThe effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nApplication, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments\n\nIf the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nModifications\n\nIf the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nSelf‑repealing provisions\n\nIf a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.\n\n![RMA-Red](image.002.jpeg)\n\nStatement of Principles\n\nconcerning\n\nPERSONALITY DISORDER  \n(Reasonable Hypothesis)\n\n(No. 17 of 2018)\n\nThe Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\nDated 2 March 2018\n\n  \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Revocation\n\n5 Application\n\n6 Definitions\n\n7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n8 Basis for determining the factors\n\n9 Factors that must exist\n\n10 Relationship to service\n\n11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles\n\nSchedule 1 - Dictionary\n\n1 Definitions\n\n  \n\n1 Name\n\nThis is the Statement of Principles concerning personality disorder (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2018).\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences on 2 April 2018.\n\n3 Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n4 Revocation\n\nThe Statement of Principles concerning personality disorder No. 70 of 2008, as amended, made under subsections 196B(2) and (8) of the VEA is revoked.\n\n5 Application\n\nThis instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.\n\n6 Definitions\n\nThe terms defined in the Schedule 1 \\- Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.\n\n7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n(1) This Statement of Principles is about personality disorder and death from personality disorder.\n\nMeaning of personality disorder\n\n(2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, personality disorder means a disorder of mental health that meets the following diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5):\n\n    An enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture. This pattern is manifested in two (or more) of the following areas:\n\n(i) cognition (that is, ways of perceiving and interpreting self, other people and events);\n\n(ii) affectivity (that is, the range, intensity, lability and appropriateness of emotional response);\n\n(iii) interpersonal functioning; or\n\n(iv) impulse control.\n\n    B. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations.\n    C. The enduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.\n    D. The pattern is stable and of long duration, and its onset can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.\n    E. The enduring pattern is not better explained as a manifestation or consequence of another mental disorder.\n    F. The enduring pattern is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (for example, a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition (for example, head trauma).\n\n> Note 1: The definition of personality disorder includes paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, other specified personality disorder and unspecified personality disorder.\n\n> Note 2: The definition of personality disorder excludes personality change due to another medical condition.\n\n> Note 3: DSM-5 and personality change due to another medical condition are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(3) While personality disorder attracts ICD‑10‑AM code:\n\n(a) F60.0 (paranoid personality disorder);\n\n(b) F60.1 (schizoid personality disorder);\n\n(c) F21 (schizotypal personality disorder);\n\n(d) F60.2 (antisocial personality disorder);\n\n(e) F60.31 (borderline personality disorder);\n\n(f) F60.4 (histrionic personality disorder);\n\n(g) F60.8 (narcissistic personality disorder);\n\n(h) F60.6 (avoidant personality disorder);\n\n(i) F60.7 (dependent personality disorder);\n\n(j) F60.5 (obsessive-compulsive personality disorder); or\n\n(k) F60.9 (other specified personality disorder and unspecified personality disorder);\n\nin applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of personality disorder is that given in subsection (2).\n\n(4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD\\-10\\-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD\\-10\\-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.\n\nDeath from personality disorder\n\n(5) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, personality disorder, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's personality disorder.\n\n> Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n8 Basis for determining the factors\n\nThe Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that personality disorder and death from personality disorder can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.\n\n> Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n9 Factors that must exist\n\nAt least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting personality disorder or death from personality disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:\n\n(1) experiencing a category 1A stressor within the two years before the clinical onset of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(2) experiencing a category 1B stressor within the one year before the clinical onset of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(3) experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(4) having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified, within the five years before the clinical onset of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 \\- Dictionary.\n\n(5) experiencing a category 1A stressor within the two years before the clinical worsening of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(6) experiencing a category 1B stressor within the one year before the clinical worsening of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(7) experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical worsening of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n(8) having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified, within the five years before the clinical worsening of personality disorder;\n\n> Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 \\- Dictionary.\n\n(9) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for personality disorder.\n\n10 Relationship to service\n\n(1) The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.\n\n(2) The factors set out in subsections 9(5) to 9(9) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, personality disorder where the person's personality disorder was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.\n\n11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles\n\nIn this Statement of Principles:\n\n(1) if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and\n\n(2) that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA;\n\nthen the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.\n\nSchedule 1 \\- Dictionary\n\nNote: See Section 6\n\n1 Definitions\n\nIn this instrument:\n\ncategory 1A stressor means one of the following severe traumatic events:\n\n(a) experiencing a life-threatening event;\n\n(b) being subject to a serious physical attack or assault including rape and sexual molestation; or\n\n(c) being threatened with a weapon, being held captive, being kidnapped or being tortured.\n\ncategory 1B stressor means one of the following severe traumatic events:\n\n(a) killing or maiming a person;\n\n(b) being an eyewitness to a person being killed or critically injured;\n\n(c) being an eyewitness to atrocities inflicted on another person;\n\n(d) participating in the clearance of a corpse or a critically injured casualty; or\n\n(e) viewing a corpse or a critically injured casualty as an eyewitness.\n\n> Note: corpse and eyewitness are also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\nclinically significant disorder of mental health as specified means one of the following conditions, which is of sufficient severity to warrant ongoing management:\n\n(a) acute stress disorder;\n\n(b) agoraphobia;\n\n(c) alcohol use disorder;\n\n(d) anxiety disorder;\n\n(e) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (including other specified attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and unspecified attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder);\n\n(f) bipolar disorder;\n\n(g) conduct disorder (including other specified disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorder and unspecified disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorder);\n\n(h) depressive disorder;\n\n(i) eating disorder;\n\n(j) gambling disorder;\n\n(k) gender dysphoria;\n\n(l) obsessive-compulsive disorder;\n\n(m) oppositional defiant disorder;\n\n(n) panic disorder;\n\n(o) posttraumatic stress disorder;\n\n(p) schizophrenia;\n\n(q) social anxiety disorder;\n\n(r) somatic symptom disorder;\n\n(s) specific phobia; or\n\n(t) substance use disorder.\n\nNote 1: Management\" of the condition may involve regular visits (for example, at least monthly) to a psychiatrist, counsellor or general practitioner.\n\nNote 2: To \"warrant ongoing management\" does not require that any actual management was received or given for the condition.\n\ncorpse means the human remains or body parts of one or more persons who have met a violent or horrific death.\n\nNote: Examples of a violent or horrific death may include death due to suicide, gunshot, improvised explosive devices, natural and technological disasters, terrorist attacks or motor vehicle accidents. Seeing a closed body bag or viewing a body in an open-casket coffin are excluded from this definition.\n\nDSM-5 means the American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.\n\neyewitness means a person who experiences an incident first hand and can give direct evidence of it. This excludes persons exposed only to public broadcasting or mass media coverage of the incident.\n\nMRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.\n\npersonality change due to another medical condition means a disorder of mental health (derived from DSM-5) which is characterised by a persistent personality disturbance that is due to the direct physiological effects of a medical condition (for example, frontal lobe lesion, ischaemic stroke or cerebral trauma).\n\nNote: DSM-5 is also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\npersonality disorder—see subsection 7(2).\n\nrelevant service means:\n\n(a) operational service under the VEA;\n\n(b) peacekeeping service under the VEA;\n\n(c) hazardous service under the VEA;\n\n(d) British nuclear test defence service under the VEA;\n\n(e) warlike service under the MRCA; or\n\n(f) non-warlike service under the MRCA.\n\n> Note: MRCA and VEA are also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\nsevere childhood abuse means:\n\n(a) serious physical, emotional, psychological or sexual harm whilst a child aged under 16 years; or\n\n(b) neglect involving a serious failure to provide the necessities for health, physical and emotional development, or wellbeing whilst a child aged under 16 years;\n\nwhere such serious harm or neglect has been perpetrated by a parent, a care provider, an adult who works with or around that child, or any other adult in contact with that child.\n\nterminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:\n\n(a) pneumonia;\n\n(b) respiratory failure;\n\n(c) cardiac arrest;\n\n(d) circulatory failure; or\n\n(e) cessation of brain function.\n\nVEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n> Note: Endnotes\n\n> Note: Endnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\n> Note: Endnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n|                                                | o = order(s)                        |\n| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |\n| ad = added or inserted                         | Ord = Ordinance                     |\n| am = amended                                   | orig = original                     |\n| amdt = amendment                               | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)  |\n| c = clause(s)                                  | /sub‑subparagraph(s)                |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x                       | pres = present                      |\n| Ch = Chapter(s)                                | prev = previous                     |\n| def = definition(s)                            | (prev…) = previously                |\n| Dict = Dictionary                              | Pt = Part(s)                        |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament          | r = regulation(s)/rule(s)           |\n| Div = Division(s)                              |                                     |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | reloc = relocated                   |\n| effect                                         | renum = renumbered                  |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation            | rep = repealed                      |\n| gaz = gazette                                  | rs = repealed and substituted       |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003                      | s = section(s)/subsection(s)        |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003         | Sch = Schedule(s)                   |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given     | Sdiv = Subdivision(s)               |\n| effect                                         | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment       | SR = Statutory Rules                |\n| cannot be given effect                         | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)             |\n| mod = modified/modification                    | SubPt = Subpart(s)                  |\n| No. = Number(s)                                | underlining = whole or part not     |\n|                                                | commenced or to be commenced        |\n\n> Note: Endnote 3—Legislation history\n\n| Name                                                                                                                 | Registration              | Commencement      | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |\n| Statement of Principles concerning personality disorder (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2018)                     | 6 March 2018F2018L00205   | 2 April 2018      |                                                 |\n| Veterans' Entitlements (Statements of Principles—Category 1B Stressor) Amendment Determination 2018 (No. 87 of 2018) | 28 August 2018F2018L01188 | 24 September 2018 |                                                 |\n\n> Note: Endnote 4—Amendment history\n\n| Provision affected                               | How affected       |\n| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ |\n| Schedule 1 – Dictionary – category 1B stressor.. | rs. No. 87 of 2018 |\n| Schedule 1 – Dictionary – corpse………….……..        | ad. No. 87 of 2018 |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument replaces the earlier Statement of Principles No. 70 of 2008 (s4) and re‑specifies the diagnostic basis using DSM‑5 (s7(2)), restates and times the minimum causative factors (s9) and clarifies interactions with other Statements (s11). Amendment notes and the compilation record indicate recent changes to stressor and corpse definitions (endnotes), so the operational scope of qualifying events and definitions has been updated from the prior instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy use of defined terms in Schedule 1 (e.g. category 1A/1B stressors, severe childhood abuse, clinically significant disorder) — (s6; Schedule 1)","Clinical diagnostic standard referenced to DSM‑5 rather than only ICD codes, with ICD codes noted but DSM‑5 definition prevailing — (s7(2)–(4))","Multiple temporal thresholds for causation and worsening (2 years, 1 year, 5 years) and distinct tests for onset vs worsening — (s9; s10(2))","Cross‑references and interaction with other Statements of Principles and primary statutes (VEA, MRCA), creating dependency on other instruments — (s3; s5; s11)","Administrative legal standard 'reasonable hypothesis' creates an evidentiary/decision threshold rather than a definitive causation rule — (instrument title; s9; s8)","Revocation of prior Statement and inclusion of amendment history means scope and definitions have been updated and may differ from earlier practice — (s4; endnotes)","Specific exclusions and limiting language (e.g. personality change due to another medical condition) adding interpretive complexity — (s7(2) note 2; Schedule 1)","Operational definitions that narrow or expand exposure (e.g. detailed definitions of 'corpse' and 'eyewitness') affect what events qualify as stressors — (Schedule 1)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets the medical and causal rules used to decide whether a diagnosed personality disorder is connected to a person's military or peacekeeping service for claims under the VEA or MRCA. It defines personality disorder by DSM‑5 criteria and lists minimum factors that will raise a “reasonable hypothesis” (timing‑linked traumatic stressors, severe childhood abuse, prior significant mental disorders, or inability to obtain appropriate management) and requires those factors to be related to the person's relevant service."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard replacement of an expired Statement of Principles (revoking No. 70 of 2008). The scope remains consistent with the original legislative intent under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986—establishing medical criteria for determining service connection for personality disorders. The 2018 amendment regarding Category 1B stressors and corpse definitions is a technical refinement rather than scope expansion."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to defined terms in Schedule 1 Dictionary (approximately 15 defined terms)","Nested conditional logic in section 9 with parallel structures for 'clinical onset' and 'clinical worsening'","Specific diagnostic criteria imported from external medical standard (DSM-5) with 6 sub-criteria (A-F) in subsection 7(2)","Exclusion clauses in the definition (personality change due to another medical condition is excluded)","Temporal limitations on factors (2 years for 1A stressors, 1 year for 1B stressors, 5 years for mental health disorders)","Dual legislative framework application (VEA and MRCA with different service types)","Section 11 creates dynamic incorporation of other Statements of Principles by reference"],"plain_english_summary":"This Statement of Principles tells the Repatriation Medical Authority how to assess whether a veteran’s personality disorder can be plausibly linked to military service for compensation purposes. It affects veterans, peacekeepers, and current/former Defence Force members claiming under veterans’ legislation.\n\nIt matters because it sets the lower “reasonable hypothesis” threshold and identifies service-related severe trauma, serious childhood abuse, co‑existing mental disorders, treatment access, and service‑aggravation as the kinds of factors that can establish a plausible connection."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018","history":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-personality-disorder-reasonable-hypothesis-no-17-of-2018/documents"}}