Any psychiatrists out there

[hollieplus2]

Just saw one today and he asked me a wierd question. He told me he was going to tell me three words and that I was to remember them. He said: House, friendship, three. Then he asked me to repeat them and remember them for later. About 30 minutes later he asked me to repeat them. I said three, house, friendship. He then wrote something down. It wasn't until later did I realize I said them back in the wrong order...what does this test do and what does this mean???? It's been bugging me all day.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That is odd. I saw that techique on TV with a movie or show....I can't think of it off the top of my head because my memory stinks.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Deb in IA]

It's a test of short term memory.

 

[C.Ann]

It's a test of short term memory.

Yep.. DD had to do this - while taking large amounts of pain medication for her back injuries - when being examined by the other driver's insurance company doctor in regards to the pending lawsuit.. She also had to do this during her 2-day deposition - several times..

 

[Liberty Belle]

It's a test of short term memory.

Is it significant that she said them backwards?

 

[golfgal]

Is it significant that she said them backwards?

Not unless she was told to remember them in order.

 

[kim929]

your good, I would have forgot the words as soon as I walked out his door.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

No, the order in which they were repeated is not significant as that is not part of the test for short term memory retention.

You did fine, so don't worry about it.

 

[Imzadi]

No, the order in which they were repeated is not significant as that is not part of the test for short term memory retention.

Not unless he was anal retentive and nit-picky. But, that would be more about him than about you.

 

[themarquis]

don't freak out. you're fine. if he had wanted you to state them in order, he would have said so -- otherwise, how would you know that's what he wanted?

This is a standard test they do to assess your mental functioning. They have a bunch of weird little tests. I know some others are one where you have some poker chips or tokens and you have to slide them off the table with your right, then left, then right hand and so on. There's another one where they give you a letter and have you think of al the words you know starting with that letter.

Basically they are looking for gross abnormalities that would indicate that all hell is breaking loose in your brain. They don't care if you do a less than perfect job on their silly tasks or if you can list ten vs twenty words starting with E. They just care that you don't fail completely, which might indicate that you have dementia or had a massive stroke or something.