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.