Hang in there. It shouldn't be scary, but there are all different degrees of competence in consultative exam (CE) docs just as there are in docs you choose of your own accord.

It's not some big dark secret, or shouldn't be. It shouldn't be any different than going to a psych doc for the first time--only this time, the doc's giving his/her opinion of you based solely on ONE visit. Um..... if you have a treating psych doc, THAT doc's opinion of you should weigh far more than a CE doc.

There are things called residual functional capacity forms that your own doc can fill out and submit to social security. Look for a mental health residual functional capacity form.

CEs aren't a "magic step" on the road to a disability determination, but they are part of the process in some, not all, cases. Sometimes they're ordered if SSA thinks that there's a part of your record that needs to be developed. Sometimes you have NO idea why they're ordered. Sometimes they're ordered when you don't have any recent treatment. Sometimes they're ordered when you have plenty of recent treatment but....well..... someone obviously thought something was lacking.

Anyway, go, be yourself, answer honestly, and if you have your own doc, then get a residual functional form and have him/her complete it and send it to SSA.

Some CEs do a great job and give favorable opinions. Often, however, I've seen them give not so great opinions or opinions that conflict with the treating docs--sometimes to the point where the CE sees totally different things than the treating doc. It's kind of scary when that happens. Just remember, this is a one time exam, and if you have a treating doc your doc's opinion should be taken more seriously than the CE.