What's up with the psychiatric evaluation needed for insurance. What kinds of questions to they ask while they are shrinking your brain??? :lol:I've never seen a therapist before and am kinda nervous about it!

Mine was very very simple: she asked me why I want to get the lap band, and then handed me a 400 questionaire. Yes 400 questions. It's called the MMPI and it asks some pretty lame questions like "would you rather be a forest ranger or a florist ?" What that has to do with me not wanted to be fat anymore is beyond me, lol

It's really no biggie and you'll do fine. :thumbup:

I don't know what's up with psych evals. I had to have one too and she pretty much asked me some stupid questions like Do you like yourself? and Why I thought I needed the band. It really is no big deal. Just be yourself and answer the questions honestly and you'll be fine:rolleyes2:

The Dr. who did my psych. eval. explained to me that they want to make sure they we are realistic about the surgery, and that we realize that there are risks involved. I didn't have anything to fill out, and it lasted about 30 minutes tops.

Hubby was hoping I'd get a straight jacket to play with! :-)

Thanks for the laugh TX diva..... Im also going for a psych eval, mine is tomorrow and that is the last approval I need to submit for insurance approval. My dr's office has said that BCBS typically gives them an answer within 2-5 days of submitting.... now that was shocking. I want to get a date set and start my jouney = hopefully in March 08.

I dont know why an MMPI would be administered.

Usually psych evals need to evaluate if you understand the risks and benefits, how compliant you are likely to be with follow up directions and care, and how good your support network is should something go wrong.

The reason it is required is because unfortunately there are a lot of people that meet criteria from a BMI perspective but are unable/unwilling to comprehend that band is a lifetime commitment with long term changes required.

Insurance companies do not want to pay for a surgery likely to fail.

That being said, I am self pay and I still had to get a psych eval done. Mine was simple, but he did ask questions like was I picked on a lot as a kid.

My Psych Eval was easy but super long. After talking to the guy answering common sense questions I had to take three written tests. Two had about 400 questions and the last only had about 50. But the questions were like "I am a happy person" true or false. "I sometimes hear voices" true or false.

It looks like the psych evals are as different as the doctors. Mine wasn't that long. I had to complete a 16 question survey. (It was mostly about liking myself and eating). Then the doctor and I chatted for about 45 minutes. He asked me some questions that seemed to be geared to did I understand what my life would be like post surgery and the commitment I was making. It wasn't tough at all.