Personnel Security Hearing (PSH)

Personnel Security; Access Authorization Not Restored; Guideline I (Psychological Conditions)

On June 21, 2019, an Administrative Judge determined that an Individual's access authorization under 10 C.F.R. Part 710 should not be restored. A DOE-contracted psychologist (DOE Psychologist) evaluated the Individual after she self-reported receiving in-patient psychological treatment for anxiety and depression. The DOE Psychologist determined, based on e-mails the Individual had sent to DOE personnel asserting that strange men were monitoring her and seeking to intimidate her, that the Individual suffered from an unspecified mental condition that impaired her judgement and reliability. The Individual was subsequently diagnosed with Delusional Disorder by her mental health practitioner, and was admitted for in-patient treatment a second time after experiencing a psychotic episode. At the hearing, the Individual indicated that she believed that she had been followed by strange men in the past, and expressed that she would not disclose if she believed she was being followed in the future so as to avoid placing her access authorization in jeopardy. The DOE Psychologist endorsed the Individual's diagnosis of Delusional Disorder, and opined that not enough time had passed since the Individual's last psychotic episode to deem her in remission. Based on the DOE Psychologist's opinion that the Individual suffered from a psychological condition that impaired her judgement, stability, reliability, or trustworthiness, and the Individual's intent to minimize her symptoms in the future, the Administrative Judge determined that the Individual had not mitigated the security concerns under Guideline I. Therefore, he determined that the Individual's access authorization should not be restored. OHA Case No. PSH-19-0015 (James P. Thompson, III).