What is the most valid diagnosis

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After reading through the thread about bad experiences with psychiatrists with little knowledge about asperger's syndrome and patients reacting badly to their treatment, I was wondering, how valid would say a psychiatrist's diagnosis be compared to that of a psychologist or a speech and language therapist, for instance. In fact, which professional would you say would be best able to diagnose it?

I would say a psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders.

Doesn't it have to be a neuropsychologist? A couple of people have mentioned seeing autism specialists and having an informal diagnosis but not a "real" diagnosis. I don't think that really makes sense, though.. If the specialist thinks they have it, why is that not a diagnosis?

I noticed that too - people getting re-diagnosed by every doc or therapist. So here's what I did, and I think it's really good, but it took a long time of waiting lists.

1. I got my family doctor to refer me to a psychiatrist who specializes in autism (because autism is in DSM, ergo it's psychiatrist territory).

2. When I got there I was interviewed 4 hrs (separate days) by a psychologist with works with the psychiatrist (still with me?) because even if it is in the DSM, the only way to diagnose is by observation (psychologist territory). I never actually met the psychiatrist! But they filmed the interviews so maybe he saw them.

3. They asked me why I wanted a diagnosis. I told them I wanted a sort of diploma that I could produce if somebody tried to re-diagnose me. That's what they gave me, it's perfect. It's one page and the hospital letterhead signed by the psychiatrist - it lists the symptoms in the DSM and then it says "A diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder is warranted."
They also gave me a bunch of reports on the interviews and tests, which I can show or not.

So I got that settled, anybody that disagrees has to go talk to that psychiatrist.

Anyone who is diagnosed by someone who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. My psychiatrist specialized in it.

The most valid is either a Psychiatrist or Psychologist who has an interest in ASD's, combined with a lengthy assessment.

I had the former but not the latter.

Also for what reason are you getting officially diagnosed? Is it that you may need government or other assistance, or for your own knowledge?

There's a number of ways to get recommendations of professionals in your area,

apart from word of mouth

Some sort of federal Psychology or Psychiatry board, they have lists of people who are interested in ASD's

Local Autism and/or Asperger's group, if you don't know where they are there's a site called OASIS that has some lists of those

Possibly a doctor's referral


I sort of sit on the borderline between having traits and having it. Not happy with how I was diagnosed though, I feel I wasn't assessed properly.