Question:
Does a psych eval by somone who doesn't know me seem off?
I am a little worried about this. Most of us know that the psych eval can be a crock in mose cases. I'm being seen by someone who I have never even met, who doesn't know anything about me, my history, etc. I just had this today, and I don't know how it went. He kept having this awful sad face when after him asking, I mentioned my parents had divorced a year ago. Like I was supposed to be fragile or something. He gave me these bogus depression and anxiety tests, which were made for people who come in with these complaints, as they had no space to mark NEVER or NO in some question asking if I had a specific symptom of depression or anxiety. So I wrote it in... Then the MMPI. I was in fits of laughter from the stupidity of some of the questions. Honestly-- I have read that there is something that can tell if you are being "fake-good." How in the world? I am HONESTLY a very well-adjusted person who is MO. So as well-adjusted as I can be. I'm not depressed or anxious or schizophrenic or hysterical or psychotic. I don't hear voices or think people are controlling or stealing my thoughts. I'm not even afraid of snakes and I have no desire to harm animals. Isn't this all that should matter? I'm not going to kill myself-- I happen to love myself, however, I will die of heart disease or diabetes if I don't get this surgery-- because NOTHING else works! Sorry for ranting... I just hate someone trying to evaluate me from talking to me for 45 minutes. And how *most* psychologists are always trying to look for problems that aren't there... like he was. This whole thing could GIVE me a psychosis! — Erin Z. (posted on January 17, 2003)
January 17, 2003
Hi! I just took the MMPI2 test too and yep it is a very strange test.But I
trust my surgeon completely and whatever she requires I'm happy to do.My
surgeon also requires that the psych eval. be done by a psychologist that I
have never seen before......I'm just guessing that it's to get an unbiased
opinion.My surgeon requires the MMPI2 test because a good majority of her
patients are depressed to some degree... if only because of how their
weight is affecting their lives.Also the test is set up to tell if you can
emotionally handle and comply with the huge emotional and physical change
after surgery.My surgeon is big on treating the "whole person".So
if the test comes back showing any signs of depression then she refers them
for some counseling or behavior modification.Yes, having to take that 500
and something question test was a pain in the butt but I know that my
surgeon is just looking out for my well being.
— jennifer A.
January 17, 2003
I dreaded my evaluation.No need to as it was very short (15 minutes) Some
easy to answer questions,eg, who is President? What day month and year is
it? I had to explain the surgery .I never had 500 questions,,just a short
form to fill out and take with me.
— Sue T.
January 17, 2003
I completely agree with you. I spent an hour at my psych eval telling a
story from some pictures he showed me. He said I eat to keep men away. He
said naturally men are attracted to thin, fit woman(Yes,really) and he
feels that when I get thin, I'll just eat into a blimp again to keep the
men who will naturally be attracted to me at my new thin weight away. Wow.
I thought all that after only an hour. Take it for what it is worth and
use it to gain some inner understanding of yourself, but I would scream
like hell if I were denied because of my psych eval. Good Luck.
— susan P.
January 17, 2003
Hi you struck a nerve in me!! I wanted to hurry the process and got a
referral from my PCP to a Psycologist - before my Surgery Consult. Well,
she gave me the 500 question form too and then talked to me for about 45
minutes. During this time I did tell her, I had a son who is irresponsible
financially and that I do snack alot, eat fast foods and tend to overeat at
times like Thanksgiving and all you can eat Buffets. She denied me till I
got conseloring for coping skills and eating issues. I then made an
appointment with a Psych Dr. off my surgeon list - I took a 350 guestion
test and all we talked about is the surgery and things to avoid after
surgery and he advised me about changes I would face. TOTALLY different
Eval. WE are not perfect, we all have eating issues or we wouldn't have
gained so much weight, we all have tried various diets - NOW we need this
tool. I would advise everyone to go to a Psych Dr. referred from your
surgeon - they know what the surgeon is looking for and who should be
screened further. Good Luck- I hope to hear about my second eval next week-
Sally
— Sally P.
January 17, 2003
my eval was doen by a wonderful lady who works closely with the surgeons
offcie. she is weight loss freindly, thank goodness so it was really just a
formality. if i had went elsewhere i would of been terribly worried! had to
rent a car and drive 2 hours tro go to her, but it was worth it!
— janetc00
January 17, 2003
Erin,
Well I am really going to put myself out on a limb with this - but here
it goes. First, I am 44 years old, post-op lap RNY, 9/23/02, down 70 lbs.
I am also a licensed clinical psychologist. Even though I am a
psychologist I still had to have a psych. eval. (And yes, by the way, I am
NOT crazy! lol). I will not defend the actions of all psychologists, as I
agree that there are many "quacks" out there who are a disgrace
to our profession.
There are many psychological assessment tools, like the MMPI-2, that
really appear to be very stupid. However, believe it or not, there are
several decades of research that back it's effectiveness in detecting
severe pathology. The MMPI-2 is also very accurate in detecting indivudals
who are trying to appear "perfect" or trying to act
"psychotic".
A good psychological eval. should take several visits incorporating
several assessment tests (like the MMPI-2, Beck's Depression Inventory,
etc.) and an indepth clinical interview. But, due to insurance constraints
these evals. may be approved for only 1 visit, severely limiting the
psychologist's ability to do an indepth job. You may be given one
assessment to fill out and a short interview by the psychologist. I also
question the validity and reliabilty of such a brief assessment. However,
if the insurance companies and surgeons insisted on a more indepth (and
thus more accurate) assessment it would drive the cost up substantially.
Many surgeons are just looking for the "OK" from another
professional to rule out any major psychological problems.
Personally, I felt offended having to be evaluted before I had the
surgery. Cardiac patients don't need a psych. eval before their bypass
surgery. It does imply that if you are fat that there must be something
psychologically wrong with me. Well that is just bullshit. In fact the
research suggests that most of the psychological problems obese people
have, go away after they lose the weight.
So - overall I think that a GOOD indepth eval. is a good idea I don't
think that is what happens to most of us.
Thanksk, Gina
— Gina P.
January 17, 2003
Almost all the shrinks I've seen have been money hungery grubs with
delusions of godhood. Your's sounds like the quaks I gotten at times.
Geese. Mine, who knew me for years gave the go ahead for WLS. But my
insurance wanted to deny me so they sent me to their horse's butt, I mean
boy. What a nightmare that was. Funny, seems they would prefer someone who
knows you for along time as it would be easier to fake it with someone who
does'nt know you. Go figure.
— Danmark
January 17, 2003
I had my psyche eval yesterday and I had to take a 10 page questionnaire
with my plus take the 500+ question test as well. I had never meet the
psychologist before but she was a nice women. she did tell me that they
ask about your work history to see if you are able to stick to something
for a long period of time. I do feel that the 500+ question exam is rather
foolish because any one can pass it as longs you know what would make you
sound like a nut and what wouldn't. I guess the test must be to weed out
the people that can't tell the difference.
— Jennifer S.
January 18, 2003
I agree completely with what Gina said, the MMPI does seem crazy, BUT it's
good at detecting liars.... my ex and I both took it for custody
proceedings, and HE was the one to request the MMPI, HE said he knew he'd
pass with flying colors, and HE knew the questions ahead of time... funny
thing is, I passed just fine, and his showed pathological tendencies.. go
figure... they DO work! Just be honest on it.
— Kelly B.
January 18, 2003
I just had my psych evalutation last week and I did not have to take the
MMPI2 test. I sat and talked with a psychologist for almost 2 hours. He
actually ran out of questions to ask me. Before I went in I had to check
off things that I had experianced such as heart palpatations, homicidal
thoughts, suicidal thoughts, hearing voices etc. there were about 50 things
and when I went back he asked me to explain what caused the things I was
checking off most had a medical reason or a emotional reason that I was
handling. He told me that I was the most well adjusted overweight person he
had ever met and that he would recommend me for the surgery. I asked him
why he didn't give me the MMPI test and he said that he doesn't use that
unless he doesn't get the kind of answers he is looking for from talking to
a person. I took this to mean that if he thought that I was just telling
him what I thought he wanted to hear that I would have had to take that
test. I really was worried before I went in for this evaluation, I know
that I don't have any problems but I was still extremely worried that he
would try to find something wrong with me.
— S C.
January 19, 2003
I didn't go to the psych that my surgeon uses because she charges $200,
even though she is listed under my insurance plan. I guess she doesn't want
to get screwed in case of denial. Anyway, I chose someone closer to my home
and I paid the $25 copay for a mental health visit. I did the MMPI and then
I met with the psych. He was asked by the surgeon to determine if I am
mature enough emotionally to undergo a procedure that has life-long
ramifications. They want to know if I realize the seriousness of the
procedure. They really aren't trying to pick your brain and all that.. just
want to make sure that you aren't doing this on a whim.
— SarahC
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