Psych Eval.. Maybe Too Easy. Your Thoughts?

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

Okay so weeks ago I booked a psychiatrist that my insurance covered. I did mention to the receptionist what it was for. Went there today. He asked basic mental health questions, I.e. voices, depression, familt history of etc. So he documented what he asked in his comp then told me I was sane enough for surgery. He printed that I was cleared and that was that. I thought I would have to come back but then he told me he was the psych that gave meds only. He wasn't the

one with the couch and you go into details about your life, etc. He did give me a number to the place he recommends if I need that type. So now I'm like uhhh is this good enough. Im going to bring the letter to my surgeons secretary to look at.

[Missmarbe 25]

I had my Psych eval today. It was a little more extensitive than yours. I completed a lot of paperwork, talked to the Psych about mental history and so forth, then completed yet more paper wor ( a mental health/personality test). I guess if you were not satisfied, you should let your doctor know. Maybe you didn't have any signs of having a mental illness so he didn't go into detail.

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

I guess what I really need to see is a copy of what peoples clearance letter looked like. I wont be able to see the secretary of the surgeon until the first. I dunno. Its more about having the right things than a lengthy eval. Even the secretary was expecting me to need a second appt because thats what she told me in the beginning. First was suppose to be a thirty minute fill out paperwork, then second visit was suppose to be about an hour of talking. Hmmm..

[Missmarbe 25]

I am glad I don't have a 2nd visit!! This visit was 1 hour & a half. he basically cleared me pending my results. hopefully I get my letter befire the 1st and I can share.

[Pookeyism 1,143]

The surgeons coordinator should be willing to let you fax or scan the letter so she can look at it now.

The psyche eval is a very commonly underused tool. This is where you are evaluated as a good candidate but when your issues are addressed - and we all have them. The counselor does this too but is nowhere near qualified as a good psyche.

[Lissa 2,631]

Send the letter to your surgeon's secretary and see if that's sufficient. My psyche evaluation was a lot like yours except that my psyche told me that I WOULD be an alcoholic after surgery. I'm not. I think my psyche person needed the services of a good therapist more than I did! And, I actually see a therapist! LOL

Don't be worried that the consult wasn't more extensive. Just be glad that you've jumped through one more hoop and it's behind you!

[Kiki Von Moonshine 53]

Thanks everyone! Im going to fax it early or show her on the first if March.

[Rootman 1,101]

Yeah, these things range from being a joke to a full Spanish inquisition. It depends on a lot of things, like what the insurer wants to get from it, to weed people out, KEEP people out or just to provide some culpability.

So too it depends on the person conducting the exam. I've heard of some horror stories of the conductor being seemingly nuts and making it their person mission to "fix" every one that sees them. It's not uncommon to hear of 2 or 3 hour sessions, hundreds of questions and being grilled incessantly.

So I would be glad that the appeared to handle this courteously, efficiently and swiftly. Sounds like you're on you're way! Congrats!

[Tif 2.0 141]

I was supposed to complete a psych eval, but I didn't even meet with the Psychiatrist. It was all done through my surgeon's office. I paid the $50 and the surgeon's office gave me a 20 page questionaire from the psych's office and then the psychiatrist wrote a report based on my responses.

Not at all what I was expecting.