Question

Can a psychologist diagnose PTSD?

Answer 1

Only medical doctors (MD's) and psychologists with doctoral degrees in clinical psychology (PhD's) can diagnose mental disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And with medical doctors (MD's), psychiatrists are specialists who have expertise in diagnosing and treating mental disorders, such as PTSD. If you want an assessment for a mental disorder such as PTSD, the professional with the most expertise in diagnosing and treating PTSD are psychiatrists.

But not all PhD psychologists can diagnose mental disorders such as PTSD. Only psychologists with a PhD in clinical psychology can diagnose mental disorders such as PTSD.

Comments

I dont agree with this sentiment.  Clinical Psychologists get much, much more training in psychological assessment than Psychiatrists (medical doctors) using both structured interviews like the SCID, the CAPS-5, and self-report measures such as the PCL-5. The vast majority of individuals who work within the National Center for PTSD are psychologists (PsyDs and PhDs), not pscyhiatrists. Moreover, very few psychiatrists get training in evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure. Their practices are focused often on medication management and/or dynamic psychotherapy. If you're looking for more information about PTSD and treatment options, I'd recommend looking into the National Center for PTSD Website. It has a library of useful information that applies even if you are not a Veteran.

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What are you talking about? I state in my answer the PhD clinical psychologists can also diagnose PTSD. Regarding psychiatrists, you know nothing about the intensive residency and fellowship training that is required to both diagnose and treat severe mental illness, such as PTSD. Go back to your psych testing and shut up. You have no clue what psychiatrists do.