THE SOCIAL SECURITY PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM

If you claim psychological disorders on your disability application, Social Security may send you to one of their contracted psychologists for a mental status evaluation. They pay for the exam. So, let's discuss what happens at the mental or psychological consultation:

Exactly what happens during a psychological consultation (interview) depends on what the Disability Determination Service (DDS) has requested the doctor to provide. Usually, the “examination” is just an interview with a clinical psychologist who will ask a lot of questions and record his findings. Below are typical items that a psychologist MAY address during the consultative interview:

The doctor will usually begin by getting some oral personal history about you, your family, your past jobs, medical history, and daily activities, etc. The Dr. will observe everything you do: eye contact, body movements,. tone of voice, volume of voice, mood, concentration, etc.

• ORIENTATION TO DATE, TIME and PLACE. You may be asked today’s date, your name, to identify where you are and why you are there, these type of questions.

• FUND OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. The doctor may determine whether you have general “walking around” knowledge. Questions might include such things as: Who is President of the United States? Who is governor of Alabama? Name the vice-president. What state lies immediately to the west (or south) of Alabama? Name 3 rivers or large cities in the U.S. etc.

• REASONING and ABSTRACT ABILITY. You might be given a series of proverbs and asked to explain what they mean. For examples: The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

· COGNITIVE (THINKING) PROCESS: Spell a word backwards. Count backwards from 100. Count by serial 7’s etc. If you buy something in a store for $7.95 and give the cashier a $20 bill, how much change will you get back? (No practice please – this must be spontaneous, no rehearsal).

· RECENT MEMORY. These questions tests whether you have good memory of recent events. The doctor names 5 things, waits a few minutes and asks you to repeat them. What did you have for dinner last night? Any number of question of that type may be asked.

· LONG TERM MEMORY. There may be questions like: What was the first school you attended? Who was your second grade teacher. Who was your date for your junior-senior prom? What was the name of the street you lived on when you were a child, etc.

· ABILITY TO MAKE JUDGMENTS, MAINTAIN CONCENTRATION, PACE, ETC. The doctor may make a determination as to how well you can focus, stay on subject or on task, follow directions, understand instructions, etc. There are usually no special tests or questions for this but it is determined by a seemingly casual conversation with the psychologist.

• GENERAL MOOD. The doctor will evaluate whether you seem depressed or anxious and whether you can exercise good judgment and make decisions on simple matters. He/she will determine if you have any evidence of psychosis, flight of ideas, loose associations, or other abnormal tendencies.

Please see my separate article on "Things You Never Say to a Social Security Doctor," available on this website.