With certain surgeries, there is a good chance that you’ll be referred to a psychologist for a pre-surgical psychological evaluation.
Pre-surgical psychological evaluations have become common for:
- Bariatric Surgery
- In vitro fertilization
- Organ Transplant
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement
Why Would My Doctor Ask for a Pre-Surgical Psychological Evaluation?
First, many insurance companies require their patients to see a psychologist in order to be cleared for surgery. They want to know that you understand the potential complications, post-operative effects and follow-up care required after surgery. A full understanding of these factors will greatly improve your chances for success after surgery.
Also, being mentally prepared for surgery is just as important as being physically prepared. A pre-surgical evaluation will supply your doctor with information about your psychological functioning and mental readiness for surgery. Stress, anxiety, depression, etc. can negatively impact surgical results. So too can limiting factors in your environment. A pre-surgical psychological evaluation will help identify your strengths, weaknesses, environmental barriers, and motivation for surgery. It will help you identify those areas where you might need extra support.
A typical pre-surgical evaluation includes the following:
- A clinical interview to gather relevant background information and history. The interview helps us understand important psychological, medical, and social background information, and your current cognitive and psychological functioning.
- Communication with your physician or surgeon to learn more about the surgery they are requesting an evaluation for, and specific questions they want answered by the evaluation.
- Administration of psychological tests and self-report questionnaires to assess your current level of psychological functioning.
- We may conduct a feedback session to review your test results and our treatment recommendations.
Dr. Deloney accepts Magellan, BlueCross BlueShield/Anthem, Cigna, ComPsych, Medicaid, Medicare