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Old Jul 18, 2008, 09:29 PM
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Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Louisiana
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Simcha said:
HI Kim, hi Dina---

Most psychiatrists do not conduct "therapy", focusing instead on prescribing medication (most psychiatrists aren't even trained in therapy).

With that thought in my noggin, I have to wonder why a psychologist would want to preface any mental status exam/report etc. with a physical description that goes into such details that are irrelevant to psychotherapy?

Unless the therapist is working w/ a patient with an eating disorder, I can't see the relevance...

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I don't think it's completely irrelevant for a therapist to make a note of a patient's physical appearance. If the patient goes through a dramatic weight loss/gain it could be an important clue to his or her mental state. The patient could be depressed, using drugs, going through a stressful period, suffering from an eating disorder, not practicing self care, etc. They should try to word it in a more sensitive manner though.