Question:
Can an unfavorable evaluation by your psychiatrist keep you from having the surgery?
My psychiatrist (who I have been seeing for about 5 years) is going to make me take the MMPI (or whatever its called) test to determine if I'm "mentally prepared" for the surgery. If he decides I'm not, then what happens? My surgeon is requiring the eval not the insurance company. I'd like to be ready in case I have to start jumping through hoops. I'm really ticked that I have to do the testing given the amount of time he's counseled me, but I have to do it, so I will. — Kathy B. (posted on November 19, 2001)
November 19, 2001
Don't worry ... the psychological evaluation requirement is really no big
deal. I have a history of depression and even a suicide attempt in my
past, and they still thought I was a good candidate for surgery, because I
had realistic expectations, i.e. when they asked me how much I expected to
lose, I said I would like to get to a 14/16. I don't think very many
people "fail" the psych eval!
— [Anonymous]
November 23, 2001
Oh yeah!!!! Anything you say CAN and WILL be used against you. Be very
careful as your insurance company will want "any excuse" they can
to not cover you. Most people say be honest, but I'm one of several people
on this site who say "blow sunshine up their butts and tell em what
they want to hear" or you will be strung along for a long time.
Shrinks love any excuse for more therapy. I've had many bad experiences
with the medical profession as I've had to have many approvals for shrinks
for many of my surgeries. It's a nightmare. Just be careful and don't
volunteer to much info or be "too honest".
— Danmark
November 24, 2001
If my psychiatrist/therapist required the test, I'd have someone ELSE do
the test. If your therapist doesn't know you well enough after 5 years,
there is something wrong. Or is she/he just administering the test to
prove that you jumped through the hoops? Hopefully, this is just a hoop.
I'd ask the psychiatrist if she/he already believes you're ready and the
test is a formality, or if she/he doesn't think you're ready.
— Kathy J.
November 24, 2001
A Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is a big long test that many
surgeons use to predict the personality traits and characteristics that
would likely interfere with a persons recovery. It will show if you are a
hypochondriac, a passive dependent personality type, a hysterical or
narcissistic type personality, all of which are a pain in the tookus to a
doctor who expects the person to be compliant with a complicated post
operative regime and to recover without excessive complaints. Nothing
irritates a doctor more than someone who is so self obessive and absorbed
that they focus on every little ache and pain and refuse to get moving.
Seeing a psychiatrist for five years might be indicative of someone whose
psychological make-up is worthy of a little closer inspection prior to
surgery. I would not take it personally, just answer the questions
honestly and use the interpretation as an opportunity to learn something
about yourself that you may not have been able to see before. (sometimes
testing reveals those things we don't have the insight to be able to see
for ourselves.) Good Luck!
— merri B.
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