Seeking a second opinion in psychiatry is not a sign of distrust toward your current provider. It is a reasonable, appropriate clinical step -- and in many cases, it is the step that finally clarifies what has been happening.
When a second opinion is warranted
The clearest indicator is a persistent gap between what treatment was supposed to accomplish and what has actually happened. If you have been in psychiatric care for a meaningful period -- trying different medications, adjusting doses, following through on recommendations -- and you still do not feel substantially better, that gap deserves a closer look.
A second opinion is also warranted when a diagnosis has never fully fit your experience. You may have been told you have a particular condition, received treatment for it, and noticed that while some things improved, the overall picture never resolved. That incomplete response is often a signal that the working diagnosis is either incomplete or inaccurate.
It does not require leaving your current provider
A second opinion is a consultation, not a transfer of care. You can pursue an independent evaluation while remaining in your current treatment relationship. The goal is clarity -- not disruption. A good second opinion will give you information you can bring back to your current provider, or use to make a more informed decision about your care going forward.
What a second opinion evaluation looks like
A thorough second opinion is 60 minutes and includes a full review of your psychiatric and medical history, prior diagnoses, current and prior medications, and treatment to date. Prior records are welcome and reviewed carefully. The goal is an honest, independent clinical assessment -- not validation of what you have already been told, and not a reflexive alternative recommendation.
The value of a second opinion is not a different answer. It is a more carefully examined one.
Seeing patients in Hawaiʻi through HMSA PPO, HMSA QUEST, and AlohaCare — learn more about Hawaiʻi coverage →
Ready for a clearer picture?
Evaluations are available via telehealth to adults in California and Hawai'i. Select the state where you are located to begin.