This document is a report on the implementation of changes to methods formerly used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to evaluate claims relating to mental impairment for disability benefits. The introductory letter states several conclusions reached by the General Accounting Office's (GAO) review of the criteria used by the SSA to adjudicate these claims: (1) it is too early to measure the SSA's voluntary outreach efforts; (2) progress has been made in staffing disability determination offices with psychiatrists and psychologists; (3) adjudication of claims may need improvement; (4) a growing caseload for examiners may affect the adequacy of future case development; and (5) claimants may not be receiving needed care through medical treatment or rehabilitation. The report includes sections on background information; objectives, scope, and methodology; outreach to previously denied claimants and terminated beneficiaries; and recruitment of psychiatrists and psychologists. Also included is a section on the implementation of new criteria which discusses difficulties in obtaining functional information, the increase in examiner workloads, adequacy of treatment, and referrals to rehabilitation. The report concludes with a set of general observations. Tables and figures are included. The appendix contains 1983 GAO recommendations for SSA actions needed to improve mental disability decisions and the status of psychiatrist/psychologist staffing by state disability determination services as of December 1985. (ABL)