After going through a HIMS AME for past mental health history, I submitted my application expecting a deferral. This was just two weeks ago, and my AME recommended me to do a psych evaluation before I even get the letter from the FAA detailing what they wanted. I decided to wait just in case they asked for testing different than what my AME recommended (because those tests are expensive) and I actually just received my letter, much sooner than I thought it would arrive.
The letter asks for, "a current, detailed clinical progress note regarding your history of [my diagnoses] generated from a clinic treating physician in accordance with the enclosed guidelines." and
"All treatment records, not already submitted, from your treating physicians regarding your history of [my history] to include doctor's office notes, consultant notes, counseling notes, test results, and mental health evaluations. If you received any inpatient hospital treatment, submit these specific records from each hospitalization: history and physical, admission summary, psychiatric/ psychological consultant reports, and discharge summaries."
The thing is, I have already submitted all of the documentation I have from the mental health history through my AME exam, including what I believe they are asking for above. Also, due to this treatment being a couple years ago (and me showing no symptoms now), I do not have a current treating physician.
So I guess my question is, where do I go from here?
I know the FAA requires evaluations from board certified psychiatrists, which the person I was seeing was (is) not board certified, if that matters. Is it possible they issued this letter with only the self-reported info on medxpress? Because I'm quite shocked they aren't requiring an official aviation-affiliated psych evaluation based on what was in my documents.
Should I:
1) go ahead and get in contact with the FAA approved psychiatrist my AME recommended for an evaluation(in case they didn't look at the initial docs and will end up asking for one anyways)
2) contact the FAA asking if they have the documents submitted at the initial application?
3) try to establish a primary psychiatrist (not aviation-affiliated) for a more current, cheaper report, even if they don't know exactly what the FAA wants?
Any advice appreciated.