Short answer: a second opinion is worth considering when treatment has not helped after several months, when a diagnosis does not fit your experience, or before a major decision such as a new class of medication or an advanced treatment. Good psychiatrists welcome second opinions.
Situations where a second opinion helps
- Two or more medications have not improved depression or anxiety
- You are unsure whether you have bipolar disorder, ADHD, or both
- Side effects are making treatment hard to continue
- You are taking many psychiatric medications and want to simplify
- Your child has received several different diagnoses
- You are considering options such as Spravato for treatment-resistant depression
What to bring
- A list of past and current medications, doses, how long you took them and why they stopped
- Prior evaluations, testing reports and hospital records if available
- Your main questions written down
What to expect
The psychiatrist reviews your history in detail, may suggest additional assessment, and gives recommendations. You can share them with your current clinician, or transfer care if that suits you better.
Common reasons diagnoses change
Psychiatric diagnoses rely on history and symptoms over time, so they can evolve. Depression may later turn out to be bipolar disorder, attention problems may reflect anxiety, sleep apnea or ADHD, and childhood diagnoses may be revisited as a child grows. A fresh look with full information can clarify the picture.
Simplifying complicated medication regimens
Over years of treatment, medications are sometimes added without others being removed. A second opinion can identify duplications, interactions and medications that are no longer needed, with a careful plan to simplify safely.
For parents
When a child has received several different diagnoses or is on multiple medications, a second opinion from a child and adolescent psychiatrist can bring the pieces together, including input from school and previous evaluations.
Frequently asked questions
Will my current psychiatrist be upset?
Second opinions are a normal part of medicine. Most clinicians appreciate collaboration.
Is a second opinion covered by insurance?
It is usually billed like a psychiatric evaluation. Check your plan.
Read about treatment-resistant depression or request a psychiatric evaluation with Psych Boston. Request an appointment.
Related reading: Returning to Work After a Mental Health Leave · ADHD in Women and Girls: Why It Is Often Missed
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911. Psych Boston is an outpatient psychiatry practice at 35 Bedford St #17, Lexington, MA781-218-9550).