Psychological care is not expensive, and when compared to its shortening the time of disability, it is actually money saving.
The reason for keeping psychological care brief is two fold:
a. The longer it continues, the more dependent a patient can become upon this emotional support.
b. The longer it continues, the more likely an inexperience clinician is to delve into aspects of the patient life that are not remotely related to the injury.
Psychological care should, therefore, not only be brief (eg. 8-10 visits is often ideal) but also spaced (Eg. Every 2-3 weeks), but also specifically targeted to injury-only concerns as we discussed last week.
The most functional way to obtain that is to insist upon a treatment plan, regular and thorough progress notes, and call the psychologist monthly to determine if the patient is progressing toward closure.
