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Gimme a break

Oct 31 2006 | Comments 2

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A University of Evansville professor has developed a survey that he says can determine the mental health of the respondent in a scant three minutes. From IndyStar.com:

Shortly after the patient completes the questionnaire, the therapist receives a mental-health profile. This includes alerts on whether the patient is suicidal, depressed, anxious or a danger to others. It also provides information on whether psychotherapy might help the patient grapple with his or her issues.

In addition, the profiles are color-coded, with red connoting a special alert and yellow signifying that the patient is at risk.

Hey, Homeland Security, are you listening?

The good doctor also says, “It is like a blood test. The therapist sees it first and then would sit down with the patient and discuss the implications of it.”

Somehow I don’t think those who want scientific proof of mental illness will be convinced by such a “blood test.”

Gauge mental health in minutes


liz | 11:27 AM | Uncategorized

Drew Says:

Absurd.

The one and only silver lining to a story like this is at least having this described as a “test” and a quasi-medical type of thing puts it in the realm of real illness. But overall, it just seems nuts.

Oct 31 12:15 PM

HS Says:

I have always preferred the more exacting and double blind proven method of guaging a patient’s choices in a vigorous game of “rock, paper, scissors”. Rock choosers are well rounded, paper pickers are flat in personality and scissors attract people who are sharp dressers. Or maybe not.

Oct 31 12:23 PM

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