Second Opinions Before Admission
It can be hard to hear that a mental health professional thinks your teenager needs mental health treatment. You want to trust the professionals, but you also want to be sure it’s the best course of action.
Seeking out a second opinion on a teen mental health diagnosis and treatment plan is always reasonable, especially when the recommendation is for a higher level of care. Residential treatment can be life-changing, and you want to make sure that you’re getting things right.
If you ever have doubts or concerns about a recommendation, the team at Mission Prep welcomes any questions you may have. And this is the case whether it’s a recommendation from our team or from someone else. This page can also help, as it explores the process and reasons for obtaining a second opinion for mental health treatment, as well as:
- When to seek a second opinion
- How misdiagnosis can happen in teen mental health
- What a biopsychosocial mental health assessment for your teen involves
- How to request an independent evaluation that supports your child’s care
- What to do with a second opinion once you have it
When to Seek Out a Second Opinion for Mental Health Treatment
While there’s no rulebook for when to get another opinion, there are situations in which getting another set of eyes on things is a wise move.
You know your teenager, so if a mental health diagnosis doesn’t feel like it fits, then that’s something to take seriously. A second opinion on your teen’s mental health diagnosis is all about making sure the clinical picture is accurate before you commit to a treatment path.
Has your child been in therapy for a while, but things aren’t getting better? A treatment plan that’s built on an incorrect or incomplete diagnosis might be the culprit. A thorough adolescent psychiatric evaluation can take time. So if your child received a diagnosis after a single appointment (or without any formal psychiatric testing), it’s reasonable to explore your options.
What’s more, while co-occurring disorders (multiple mental health conditions existing at once, also known as “dual diagnosis”) can complicate things, it could mean that the whole clinical picture merits a second look.[1]
Additionally, receiving a recommendation for a higher level of care that temporarily removes them from the home or increases the total amount of hours spent in treatment is major. So doing your due diligence will always be respected by any good clinician.
In the end, trust your gut. If you or your teen has been feeling unheard or that important context has been missing, it’s reason enough to seek out another opinion on things to find the best way forward.
How Misdiagnosis Can Complicate Treatment
A misdiagnosis can come about for several reasons. Mental health is a complex thing, and many of the most common conditions share enough symptoms that telling them apart requires careful testing and gathering a detailed history.[2]
Misdiagnosing teen depression and other conditions can happen, and knowing why can help you ask better questions and be a powerful advocate for your child. The following is an overview of why misdiagnosis can happen:
The Adolescent Years Can Obscure Things
Mood swings, irritability, social withdrawal, and risk-taking are all normal parts of the teenage years, but they can also be signs of a serious mental health condition. This overlap can make early-stage diagnosis difficult, and giving the process time can help to tease out what’s really going on.
Some Conditions Look Similar
Despite how things might look in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), mental health conditions don’t exist in neatly-packaged boxes. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and more can all share some symptoms and be difficult to tell apart.
For example, a teenager having difficulties with their concentration might be experiencing the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, they could also have an anxiety disorder that’s taking up lots of their brain power, or a mood disorder that’s getting in the way of their energy and focus.
Dual Diagnosis Concerns
Many teenagers who need residential treatment aren’t dealing with only one thing. When conditions overlap, an evidence-based diagnosis requires careful assessment, which helps to ensure they get the appropriate care that speaks to them and their experiences in the world.
Getting a Full Assessment for Your Child’s Needs
Pursuing a second opinion for adolescent treatment can help you recognize the best path forward, and it also helps to know what a thorough assessment actually looks like.
A genuine mental health assessment for teens will draw from multiple sources and can take more than one appointment to consider several aspects of your teenager’s life and experiences.
A full biopsychosocial assessment will consider everything from their overall physical health, medication history, sleeping patterns, and any neurological factors that might be relevant.[3] So the clinician will explore their thought patterns, emotional experiences, trauma history, and how they see themselves, along with current family dynamics, school environment, and social considerations.
In a nutshell, a thorough adolescent evaluation usually includes:
- A clinical interview with your teenager to build an accurate picture of their functioning
- Parent and caregiver interviews to gather your own observations and history
- Potential psychiatric testing with standardized measures that gather data points about their mood, attention span, memory, processing ability, and personality traits
- Input from school and other professionals who may have noticed symptoms outside the clinical setting
- A review of previous treatment records
- Screening for trauma and a history of adverse experiences
- A written summary that explains any potential diagnoses and the rationale for the formulation
Requesting an Independent Evaluation
Don’t worry about upsetting your child’s current clinician by requesting a second opinion – any worthwhile mental health professional won’t be upset or take it personally. If anything, a second opinion that confirms their assessment strengthens the foundation for your child’s treatment going forward.
The most important thing is to be transparent. Let the current provider know you’re seeking another opinion to confirm the plan going forward. Some clinicians will even be able to offer referrals or otherwise help to facilitate another appointment with someone else.
Ask the new evaluating clinician to put their reasoning and recommendations in writing. Having something that explains what criteria your child meets and why something like residential treatment is the appropriate way forward gives you something concrete to compare with any initial recommendations.
Also, make sure to gather all your records before the second opinion appointments. This gives as full an impression as possible, and is important for the assessment to work. So share any previous assessment notes, school reports, and anything else that gives them as complete a picture as possible.
Remember to also be open and honest with your child about the process. Depending on their age and where they are emotionally, they might have strong feelings about being assessed again and the potential to attend residential treatment. Their feelings are valid and deserve acknowledgement, and framing the conversation around getting the best possible help tends to land better.
Finally, remember to keep the focus on what the evaluation is actually for. A treatment plan review for teens is always the most useful when it asks whether or not the right diagnosis, level of care, and treatment approach are being utilized. The clearer the questions are going in, the more useful the answers can be once it’s done.
Steps to Take After Getting a Second Opinion
If the second evaluation confirms your child’s original diagnosis and plan, this will help your family to move forward with confidence. But if the opinions are conflicting, don’t panic – bring both assessments back to each clinician and ask them to read through and give their thoughts. In some cases, a third opinion or further testing is the right next step and reflects the genuine care you have for your child’s care.
A diagnosis that’s been tested and confirmed will always give you and your loved one the best possible chance of accessing the high-quality treatment they need going forward. Don’t hesitate to ask any and all questions you might have, because you deserve to feel comfortable about the next step in the process.
Trust Mission Prep to Support Your Family
Your loved one deserves the very best in evidence-based, holistic mental health care. That’s why every teenager who comes through our doors at Mission Prep receives a thorough and individualized assessment before any treatment begins. This ensures they’ve got the best plan possible to start recovering from mental health and dual diagnosis issues.
If you’ve been trying to make sense of your teenager’s mental health needs, our clinical team is here to help. Reach out to our admissions team today to learn more about our assessment process and how we can help your family find clarity and the best possible path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Care and Second Opinions
When considering getting a second opinion before admission to a treatment program, it’s important to have as full a picture as possible. To help, we’ve provided the following answers to questions we commonly receive about assessments.
Does Getting Another Assessment Delay Getting Help for My Child?
Getting another opinion can add some time to the process, but a short delay to confirm things is preferable to engaging in months of treatment that are based on the wrong idea. Many independent evaluations can be arranged quickly, especially if you do your part to come prepared with any existing records.
Can My Teenager’s School Records Be Part of the Evaluation?
Teacher reports, educational assessments, and school psychologist reports can be a valuable element of any second opinion or assessment. They add context to the clinical interview and biopsychosocial assessment, so be sure to compile and bring any pertinent records you may have.
How Do I Find a Mental Health Professional for a Second Opinion?
Your teenager’s current provider, their primary care doctor, and your insurance company can all be great starting points for finding a provider. Try to look for or ask for someone with experience in adolescent assessments. Doing so will give you the best opportunity to obtain more information and clarify how you’d like to move forward in the treatment process.
