Posted by Lonely on February 7, 2006, at 23:14:37
My hubby, who is diagnosed w/Bipolar 2 and/or mood disorder plus multiple sclerosis, just finished a neuropsych test session that lasted about 8 hours. This is his 3rd test (previously diagnosed w/stroke which was wrong)- he even remembers the questions although he said he's having more trouble answering and performing the tests.
1. He was tested by a person with a MA who is some sort of assistant but NOT a psychologist. Is this really ethical? From what I've read, it's important for the neuropsych to know the patient and the neuropsych only met w/my hubby for a few minutes. Doesn't the test giver need to be extremely well trained and experienced i.e. many things to think about and look for at many different levels on the part of the test giver?
2. My hubby claims the neuropsych told him his test would be over at a certain time but the tester planned to keep him there for at least another 1-1/2 to 2 hours beyond that. Hubby has memory and comprehension problems (they knew it from previous neuropsych tests)so I was no little bit peeved after driving across town. I informed him he was leaving then. He finished the test last week on Fri. Feb. 3rd. He could have finished at an earlier date but was tempermental. Could this have skewed the test and also the attitude of the clinic negatively towards me? (I think it did - partly because my hubby has been known to come up w/a lot of bologna.) MS patients, I've been told, are different than the general population or than AIDS or Alzheimers type patients.
3. From what I've read, errors are very common in neuropsych testing and the testing doesn't really apply to home type issues. Do they ever do home studies? W/MS I know the response can vary considerably. So far it has not helped at all and is always very stressful.
4. The test giver said that the neuropsych likes to see patients right away after the test so hubby scheduled an appt as soon as the clerk was there. The earliest available (allegedly) was Feb. 22nd and this was requested on Feb. 6th. He asked them to fax the report (we know it's just sitting there ready to go) and I called and asked them to fax the report. They said they would but then said she would have to ask the psychologist in the morning. They never faxed it. They offered him an appt. on Feb. 8th but then called back and cancelled it claiming the doctor had to go someplace. Is this a bit of "jerking around"? I know the results are bad and I don't even want to go to a feedback session based on experiences w/unethical psychologists in the past.
5. Is it legal to demand they send the report? Is there some way I can push it? I want to get this over and get some help - at least for myself, as I don't think there is any for him.
Thanks ~~~
poster:Lonely
thread:607388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060131/msgs/607388.html