Part 1 of this 2 part series provided a general overview of psychologists' roles in pre-implant evaluations, as well as explained the goals, objectives, and common issues encountered in these biopsychosocial assessments. Part 2 details the results from a follow-up study of patients who completed a pre-implant psychological evaluation and subsequently received a surgically implanted pain management device. ...

Pain patients who are candidates for surgical implants - whether a spinal cord stimulator or intrathecal pump - suffer chronic moderate to severe pain and have not benefited from conservative or less-invasive treatment methods which include, but are not limited to, oral medications including opioids, physical therapy, injections, psychological therapy, holistic treatments acupuncture, massage, cranial sacra ...

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies publishes an excellent free psychological screening instrument for major depression called the The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The CES-D serves a similar purpose as the ever popular Beck Depression Inventory-II, but with greater emphasis on the affective components of depression. The cost of this instrument ($0) makes it an attractive optio ...

The excellent response to BMED Report’s recent review of The Big Five Inventory came as a pleasant surprise. In light of the intense reader interest, other quality psychological assessment/screening instruments that are freely available will receive occasional reviews heretofore. Healthcare practitioners, like most everyone, look for ways to save money yet to maintain the highest quality service in today’s ...

The United States Army announced its plans to initiate psychological testing with all active duty, national guard, and reserve soldiers in an effort to identify those with possible mental health issues, as well as to strengthen psychological functioning among our brave warriors. A newly developed 170-item test that appears to have a biopsychosocial approach to assessment will be used to evaluate medical, ph ...

The Big Five Inventory (BFI), which is based on the classic "big five" dimensions of personality, was released into the public domain. All healthcare professionals may now use the BFI for free, and the author offers a free online scoring program. Oliver P. John, Ph.D. and V. Benet-Martinez developed the BFI in 1998, and in case you forgot, the big five consist of Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Emotional ...