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Dealing With Psychological Reports

Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti, Ph.D., D.Min.
Vol. I No. 2
April 1997

As part of an intervention, a superior often requests that a religious or priest go for a psychological evaluation. This is an important step when there are psychological issues involved such as depression, anxieties, substance abuse, sexual conflicts and a variety of other psychological and psycho-spiritual difficulties. At the end of the process, the superior receives a written report. Here are common problems superiors face with such reports and some suggested remedies….

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT
Very often psychological reports are written with too much jargon. They read like Freudian texts and are unintelligible to the uninitiated. If you cannot fathom what the drafter of the document is saying, call him/her on the phone and ask for a translation. In the future, insist that the institution provide reports that do not require an advanced degree in psychology to decipher. Psychologists who truly know their field are able to write reports that transmit the necessary information with a minimum of professional jargon. Insist on it!

THE REPORTS TAKE FOREVER TO ARRIVE
Some institutions transmit psychological reports or assessments orally to sponsoring dioceses or religious orders with a promise to send a written report in the future. Unfortunately, these can take many weeks, perhaps months to arrive.

However, once the client has signed an appropriate release form, you have a right to receive a timely, comprehensive report from the psychological professionals responsible for the client's care. While it is not uncommon that a good report will take a couple of weeks to prepare, it should not take months. Ask the professional when you can expect to receive your copy. If you are in a rush for significant pastoral reasons, communicate the date you will need the report as soon as you know it.

CAN THESE REPORTS BE USED AS EVIDENCE IN A LEGAL TRIAL?
It is possible that some psychological reports in superior's files can be discovered in a court of law. It should be noted that this rarely happens. Most courts recognize and respect the confidentiality of psychological reports. However, there have been a few cases where reports on clergy have made their way into criminal and civil trials.

If you decide not to leave written reports of certain types of cases on file for legal reasons, you may elect to have the written report sent directly to the client's attorney. Another option is for you, the person's religious superior, to receive only a brief written summary of the findings without specific details. A third option is for you to receive only an oral version of the report. However, if you are required to testify, you might have to reveal what you heard.

This is a thorny issue and competent legal advice on your specific jurisdiction should be sought out if this is a concern.

THERE ARE NO FIRM CONCLUSIONS IN THE REPORT
Psychology is an inexact science partly because human behavior can never be predicted with absolute certainty. Thus, psychological reports often use qualifiers such as : "it appears that" or "it is likely that." On the other hand, bishops and religious superiors often want to know with certainty that the client will not engage in destructive behavior again or that this person is forever cured and will not need treatment in the future.

Unfortunately, the best the field of psychology can do is to provide an assessment of the client's current state, identify the areas that need work, and identify risk factors for the future. While psychology can never predict human behavior with absolute certainty, it can identify high and low risk situations, recommend the best course of treatment, and outline an on-going regimen that will provide the safest and healthiest environment possible.

In the end, bishops and religious superiors will not be able to make decisions based on certainty, but they will be able to make pastorally prudent decisions based on the best information available, which will often include, among other sources, psychological reports.

Psychological reports are a valuable source of information when written by a competent professional in a timely, user-friendly manner. You might find it helpful to work with treatment programs to provide the types of reports that you need in your specific diocese or religious community. If you have additional questions or concerns, call us here at Saint Luke Institute.

LUKENOTES is a bimonthly publication of Saint Luke Institute.
Permission to use these materials must be requested in writing by contacting
lukenotes@sli.org

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Saint Luke Institute
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Silver Spring, MD 20903
(301) 422-5499 • (301) 422-5519 (fax)

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