Psychiatric evaluations
From Asylum
Although not indicated, I believe the following is related to the United States health care system. There is a health wikia which may have other information. Respectfully, Zephyrinus 17:39, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
Broadly speaking, psychiatric evaluations typically can take place in two kinds of setting and for two reasons.
- To decide whether to place a person in an psychiatric setting for a three day evaluation in an institution or psychiatric ward. This could take place in a jail, the general wing of a hospital or even at home.
- To decide the mental state of the person already put away in an institution or psych ward, or perhaps a halfway house.
In either case, unless you enjoy having others determine your actions, you must present as inoffensive and unthreatening a front as possible.
What to Expect
General Tips
- "Some of it is silly, some of it is downright stupid but in the end I've come to the conclusion that its a stupid process and if you can't avoid it you might as well play along with the stupidity. Better put on a little act and feel like you're a fraud for about an hour than end up forcibly treated or otherwise."
- "Don't piss them off. Especially not on purpose."
Specific Tips
- Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, deny any thoughts of hurting yourself or others. Deny having these thoughts. If you cannot do this, deny having a plan. Always' deny having a plan. It would help to state reasons why you would never kill yourself. Save you care about your family, about your pets, your work.
- Try to look a little bored, like, "We both have better things to be doing..."
- Talk about things you're doing to actively help yourself (exercise, etc.).
- "Talk about how sad it is that some people have 'illnesses' like depression and that you're glad there've been so many helpful advancements in psychiatry when the subject comes up (hell, this little lie saved my ass)."
- When confronted about what they might call a "major XXXX (panic, depressive, manic, etc.) episode", make sure you emphasise the rarity of these incidents and the (temporary) external factors that caused you to behave the way you did.
- Minimize family problems and your own problems.
- If they suggest that you could "use some help" go along with it, at least verbally. They may like to hear promises that you will see (or continue to you see) a therapist or counsellor or take meds. Making a promise that you intend to actually follow through with may entail some risk.
- Force yourself to maintain eye contact. Smile, look sad ... just to show that you have a wide range of emotions, but don't overdo it.
- Go through the evaluation on your own terms. Accept the "request" so that you can choose the time and prepare accordingly rather than forcing them to use a three day hold order.
- Dress neatly and conversatively, as if to an interview for an office job. If you're a woman, wear a little makeup. If you're a man don't wear any makeup. Remove piercings and hide any other body modification.
- Exxagerate social contacts (i.e. so they don't think you're isolated).
- Pretend you know little of psychology or psychiatry. You might even misuse psychiatric terms on purpose, to show your supposed lack of knowledge. On the other hand you may show that you know enough about psychiatry that you seem on the same page with them.
- Don't state anything that might be misinterpreted as a loss of reality testing (i.e. if you're a Wiccan, avoid the subject at all costs). Similarly, deny all psychotic symptoms (or what they might label psychotic symptoms), even insignificant hallucinations (or what they might consider hallucinations).
