The aim of the medical report in the area of short-term disability claims caused by psychological and psychosomatic disorders is to make a valid prognosis on the further development of absenteeism and/or to estimate the return-to-work probability of the claimant. An analysis of the current practice of determining the validity of claims caused by psychosomatic illnesses shows that it is inadequate and unsatisfactory, mainly as a result of its reliance on a cross-sectional based judgement. The authors present a structured guideline (Multi-Axial-Psychodiagnostic for short-term disability claims, MAP-KTG), which supports, via a multi-dimensional diagnosis process, the validation of the psychological and psychosomatic symptoms of the claimant. It is also used to assess the amount of functional disability with a higher degree of accuracy. The determination of the prognosis, with regard to future work prospects, can be obtained by applying a list of empirically generated variables proven to be associated with the return-to-work probability.