Anyone Seek a Second Opinion

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In another thread, it was stated that it might be a good idea to seek a “second opinion”, if you doubt your original diagnosis.

So, I am curious what a “second opinion” entails. Is it simply talking about experiences in childhood and adulthood? Or what? And, how long does this process take?

Just for background, my "first opinion" included a battery of neuropsychological tests conducted divided into 3 x 2 hour sessions. The diagnostic included the following tests:

Category: Cognition/Information Processing
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)

Category: Attention/Executive Functions
- Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA+Plus)
- Brown ADD Scales
- Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST-R)
- Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRiEF-A)

Category: Memory
- Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-IV)

Category: Adaptive Behavior
- Vineland-II Adaptive Behavior Scales
- Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS)
- Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA)
- Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2)

Category: Social/Emotional
- Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III)
- Multidimensional Anxiety Questionnaire (MAQ)
- Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)
- Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test

Some of the above tests were done with the Psychologist (WAIS-IV, WCST-R, WMCS-IV, Rorschach). Some of the above tests were simply questionnaires that I completed at home. My wife also completed several questionnaires at home (SRS-2, BRiEF-A, Brown ADD Scale).

My second opinion came from an autism specialist.

I had been seeing a psychiatrist for a while after a suicide attempt went wrong. After he had diagnosed me with other things he was of the opinion that Aspergers was what I had.

He sent me to see the specialist for a second opinion and after an interview he was of the same opinion.

It took about two hours for him to diagnose me, but I had to do questionnaires at home and send them off to him. he diagnosed me and he was also of the opinion that I had ADHD too. So he then sent me to get another opinion from another specialist about that. I was then diagnosed with ADHD too.

It was a long time ago now, but I still see a psychiatrist about my behaviour.

It is a long process and they do try a dredge up things in your life that you would rather forget about. I think that if I hadn't of tried to top myself, I would never have been diagnosed.

kinda sorta, a doctor at the hospital insisted i get one, so i got one and it only re-confirmed my ASD

First I got diagnosed by a clinical psychologist who is specialized in autism.
I also went to therapy to her for more than 2 years.
Then I got diagnosed twice applying for disability which I receive now.
But I also do have a dissociative disorder and PTSD, where the dissociative disorder is a part of.

I think if I did not have the dissociative disorder and PTSD (due to upbringing), my autism would maybe be less severe, but I don't know how it all interacts.
Sometimes I cannot draw the line between what is due to autism or due to the other.
But I also do have a genetic link to autism, my father.

It took three or four different doctors to get to my current diagnosis. The funny thing is, the first person I saw was the first person who suspected I has Asperger's. Before I got my diagnosis, the doctors I was taken to gave me diagnoses ranging from Manic-Depressive Disorder, ADD, ADHD, and just being "odd." We finally went to a doctor who specialized in Asperger's to get my diagnosis.

My first diagnosis was made by a psychiatrist who is specializes in children with ASD and was one of the first specialists in PDD when the category was created in the 1990s. I was nearly 14 years old, just about to turn 14. The diagnosis was Asperger's Syndrome. I had previously been diagnosed with ADD and a specific learning disorder which are also correct co-morbid diagnoses as far as I know.

The current clinical psychologist who I'm seeing for OCD and general anxiety also works with many children and adolescents with ASDs and Tourettes. I was referred to her by another psychologist who worked only with adolescents with ASD and anxiety when I was looking for help as an adult. I asked her to determine whether I or not I met the new DSM 5 criteria and she did a quick assessment based on her observations of me over the course of a year (she had been treating me for a year at that point), my old childhood reports and assessments and a quick interview. She then gave me a document to confirm that I still meet the criteria for ASD in the DSM 5 with social communication deficits requiring substantial support (level 2) and restrictive repetitive behaviour requiring support (level 1).

The basic definition of a second opinion is to find someone else who can evaluate your symptoms and affirm or contradict your diagnosis.

I accidentally got a second opinion on autism in 2012, which reaffirmed my original diagnosis in 2011. I wasn't looking for one, I just needed an evaluation to discuss other matters.

I want to get a second opinion but I'm nervous about it. I'd hate to go see someone new and they claim I'm not on the spectrum. That might mean I'd have to leave Wrong Planet and I like it here. (I'd leave because I'd feel like a trespasser).

^
I' don;t question your diagnosis or anyone else's but if for some reason you found out you didn't have it then I think you should still feel welcome here, not like a trespasser . People who just have autistic traits or feel a kinship to autistic people bcs they have a similar disorder or completely typical people interested in the disorder should be as welcome here as people with ASD as long as they have good intentions, IMO. If I found out I didn't have ASD I'd probably stick around here and read and post on this site until I got sick of it. It shouldn't be like a special clique or club.

I think I'm just neurologically unique. I have some autistic traits, but I also have traits that are even contrary to autism. One of those traits is an extreme hatred of routine. Several people have questioned my diagnosis, once when I was getting evaluated for suicidal feelings.

My First Opinion was my own. The Second Opinion was my Therapist's. The Psychologist who diagnosed me officially was actually the third person to agree that I had AS. I'm satisfied with that.

I sought the first professional opinion to clarify my doubts and suspicions. I sought the second set of professional opinions to provide more details.

I never presumed for a moment that my own subjective ideas of whatever was making my life a challenge were any better than the single opinion of one appropriately-trained, experienced and licensed mental-health professional. The review board simply brought the picture into clearer focus.

my first opinion was mine. every time I questioned it, I went on a psychological warpath. my conclusions (second, third, forth, etc opinion) came up the same. pay money for someone to tell me what I already know? NOT. is there a benifit? other than someone else to be wrong, or tell me I'm "normal", I'm going with no on that one too. besides, no one knows me better than me anyways. I just found something to relate to. I'm just too old though. your case may be different. there was no system in place when I was young for high functioning autism. other than a good amount of neglect, and abuse. I had my fair share of getting picked on, having books, and boards cracked over my head. being ignored, and not helped by parents and peers. that was the social norm back than. it's o.k. though. we are all good friends now.

my first opinion was mine. every time I questioned it, I went on a psychological warpath. my conclusions (second, third, forth, etc, opinion) came up the same. pay money for someone to tell me what I already know? NOT. is there a benifit? other than someone else to be wrong, or tell me I'm "normal", I'm going with no on that one too. besides, no one knows me better than me anyways. I just found something to relate to. I'm just too old though. your case may be different. there was no system in place when I was young for high functioning autism. other than a good amount of neglect, and abuse. I had my fair share of getting picked on, having books, and boards cracked over my head. being ignored, and not helped by parents and peers. that was the social norm back than. it's o.k. though. we are all good friends now.

I wonder how much diagnosis questioning would change with more available support groups/peer contact? I've been lucky enough to meet a few other individuals on the spectrum, and any doubt of my own was completely negated seeing so many of my own mannerisms reflected back to me.
I think that having that peer interaction could be just as/more effective as an evaluation from a knowledgeable professional--at least for issues of self doubt.