Convincing others of mental health trauma

An article in the Times about ailing youngsters in Le Roy, NY includes a citation to an article in Spine on fibromyalgia (1996, behind a pay firewall) whose title is, "If You Have to Prove You Are Ill, You Can't Get Well." It reminded me of an insight someone shared with me once about PTSD disability benefits, for which veterans have to periodically attest they still suffer from PTSD. The argument is that is likely to be iatrogenic, continuing mental health trauma because the patient has to convince a third party he or she had it.