Psych Eval Part 2 - MMPI

Yesterday I had the pleasure (sarcasm) of going to Part 2 of my Psych Eval which basically was the MMPI test.  I don't believe this was required by my insurance company (Cigna) but it was a requirement from my surgeon's office.  

I was taken into a room and given what looked like an ISTEP test back in the day.  It was a booklet with questions and a little "fill in the dot" worksheet to accompany it.  The answer/data sheet provided had well over 500 questions listed on it, but my psychiatrist told me only to answer through question 360.  She told me that after I answered all 360 that I could hand it in with the receptionist and that a follow-up visit wouldn't be required.  She also said, "I will send my second report to your surgeon's office after I score your results.  I don't expect there to be any issues/problems."  She went on to say that if the surgeon's office had concerns with anything in my scoring, they would follow up with me.  I am not sure how long that process takes, but I plan to follow up with my surgeon's office next week to confirm.  Now... on to my opinion of the test....

What a weird test.  I'm sure there was a point to it all and probably provided a therapist far more information on me than the questions led me to believe, but seriously a weird test.  I remember my first question was something like:  Do you enjoy reading mechanics magazines?  Uh.... no.  No, I don't.  What does that mean if I don't like them?  Anything?? The weirdness continued from there.  The test only allows for a "yes" or "no" answer and I was instructed if the statement sounded more like me to answer yes and less like me would be a no. I found some of the questions difficult to land upon an answer because I'm analytical and I wanted to say "depends on the situation".  Given that I couldn't do that, I just answered yes/no and just thought to myself..... what am I the majority of the time?  I'll give you an example.  One question asked if I was awaken easily during sleep.  My thought was, "it depends".  When my husband is home, I sleep very soundly and sleep through about anything.   When he's not home, I wake up if I hear any odd/strange noise.  So... it depends.  BUT... since he's home most of the time, I answered "no" to that particular question.  There were questions that asked if I heard voices or saw things that others did not, etc. Questions asked about if I wanted to be a singer, would I enjoy a job as a librarian, if given the chance, would I be a good world leader, etc.  You know, the only thing you can really do is answer truthfully vs. trying to read into why they are asking that particular question.   

The test took me probably 35 minutes to complete.  I will tell you that I felt a little distracted while taking it though.  They brought another person into this small closet-type room to take the same test.  I was already mid-test when they brought her in.  They gave her similar instructions as they gave me, but it was hard to concentrate through that when they are talking, asking questions, telling her where the bathrooms were, etc.  I probably could have answered it in less time if it weren't for the distractions.  The best piece of advice I could give someone if they need to take this is to just go with your gut - your immediate reaction to the question.  Don't analyze them.

I'm thankful that I'm officially done with this requirement (assuming there are no follow-ups or next steps from the surgeon's office).  I'm hopeful this means that I just have 2 more NUT appointments to go and then can get on the surgeon's calendar.

If you were an artist, would you like to paint flowers?  Huh?  Well, I might paint flowers occasionally, but wouldn't want to paint ONLY flowers.  I'd probably just paint certain flowers, but I'm not sure. When I doodle I often have a flower on my paper, so maybe that means that I would. Don't artists paint whatever they feel inspired by?  I'd think if I had the brain and creativity of an artist, I'd paint whatever inspired me in the moment.  It might be flowers, it might be a person, a feeling, a building, an animal.  It probably could be a flower occasionally, but not always flowers.  (SEE HOW MY BRAIN THINKS?!!)  Don't analyze the questions - Yes, I'd probably paint flowers at some point. 

JC

Oh JC, I'm with you on that test.  I had the exact same one.  I love the question ~ Would you like to be a Forest Ranger?  Hell ya I thought to myself, being out in nature and nobody bothering you.  What an ideal job.  I answered yes.  I did have a follow-up and the Psych asked me about that question.  He surmised that I was a lonely individual.  How he got that from just one question, I'll never know because I'm very much a people person.  On occasion I do love being alone.  Anyway he said I was "basically a well rounded person"...I hope there was no pun intended but you never know with these psych individuals :)  Anyway, Good Luck getting your surgery date!  Kim

When I went for my evaluation, I felt like I was on The 10,000 Pyramid.. she pointed to various items in the room or on her person and asked "this is called?" " and it's used for?" every time I answered she'd say, mhm good..I filled out some paperwork for medical history and I was done, lasted approximately 40 mins total.

I took that MMPI as well.  I got to discuss the results with the Psych and she explained that it looks for patterns in responses that would indicate that you are trying too hard to look sane, or that you really have some sort of mental disturbance.  She said some of my trends showed that I was being "defensive" while taking the test - which she said was normal b/c surgery patients want to impress the doc so they get approved. 

I think if you are relatively pleased with your life - your answers will score pretty middle of the road. 

She said lots of WLS patients score a little towards the melancholy side and a little defensive - but by the nature of going for WLS - you are obviously displeased with how things are with your health and are seeking approval to get help - so it makes sense that the answers would screen that way.

She approved me for surgery.