Psych Eval

[ccaramel27 56]

I just scheduled my psych eval and received forms to fill out before I go. Very overwhelmed right now and afraid to answer the questions "wrong"

[loveelaura 52]

I've been wondering about these forms. I'm still pre op and haven't seen them yet. Are they similar to the long questionnaires you have to fill out on online job applications? That's totally what I envision lol

[linda305 173]

I just had to go through that. I wished someone coached me before i went. Do not, i repeat do not answer those questions with sad stories. For example: Do you rather stay home instead of going out with friends. Or Do you compare yourself to others (what women doesn't). I thought by making myself unhappy with my weight i would be approved. That was far from the truth. She actually said i have severe depression and have to see her three more times before she would give me the go ahead. Thank god the surgeon override it, so now im scheduled for the 3rd of December. Good luck.

[purplefaery 48]

When you fill out psych forms, it is always always better to just be honest. The majority of psychological tests have been developed with questions to help the reviewer determine if you're telling the truth anyway.

I thought mine were really nerve wracking too - I know how it goes. The psychologist said that mine showed that I have a history of substance abuse, but don't now and he wasn't worried. He did get a little worried that mine showed "non-conforming" as a trait and asked me to tell him what I thought that meant. I told him, if things make sense and are logical and well explained, I will comply. But I am not the type to follow my friends over a cliff just because they tell me to - I think for myself. He approved me the same day.

I think the psych stuff is really to determine if you are ready to make the life changes required to be successful... and honestly, if I wasn't going to really change, I would hope someone would tell me and spare me the agony of going through all this just to fail. Anyway, I strongly suggest not trying to answer the questions "right," but to answer them truthfully.

[linda305 173]

I agree with purple.

[Arts137 1,811]

I'm also with Purple (and therefore with Linda too)

[MNMema 82]

I agree with Purple, Linda and Arts!!!!

[Scylla 106]

I'm heading off to my psych evaluation in about an hour! I didn't receive any paperwork beforehand, so I will probably be filling out questionnaires at the doctor's office. WIsh me luck!

[purplefaery 48]

I'm heading off to my psych evaluation in about an hour! I didn't receive any paperwork beforehand, so I will probably be filling out questionnaires at the doctor's office. WIsh me luck!

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll be fine!

[Scylla 106]

The psych evaluation was...interesting! First I talked with the psychiatrist for about an hour about my history, what I expect from the surgery, etc. and she sort of quizzed me about possible problems with the surgery, what I would eat after the surgery, whether my friends and family are supportive, who I have told about the surgery, etc. Then I had to take five tests. One was a 15 question quiz about anxiety, one was a 15 question quiz about depression, one was a 15 question quiz about compulsive overeating, one was a short quiz on surgical expectations and one was a 344 (!) question psychiatric test where you had to answer questions on a sale of F - False, ST - Sometimes True, MT - Mostly true, AT - Almost Always True with questions like:

I feel that everyone is out to get me

I hear voices inside my head telling me to do things

I often wonder what it would be like to be dead

I have thought about how I might commit suicide

Things are not going very well in my family

I don't have any supportive friends

My drug use gets in the way of my daily life

I take advantage of people whenever I can to get what I want

I answered all of the questions honestly and now I am a little concerned that the psychiatrist is going to make me come visit her to talk about my compulsive overeating / food addiction issues before she will give me the go-ahead for surgery. I'm not averse to dealing with those issues, but I just don't want them to delay my surgery. Anyone else have delays on surgery because of the psych eval?