PTSD / Trauma Specialist
Expert Witness Services
Specialist psychiatric evaluation for individuals affected by psychological trauma. Our trauma specialists provide expert evidence on PTSD, Complex PTSD, and trauma-related disorders across personal injury, employment, and criminal jurisdictions.
What Is a PTSD / Trauma Specialist?
A PTSD / Trauma Specialist is a Consultant Psychiatrist with advanced clinical expertise in the diagnosis, causation, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related conditions.
In the medico-legal context, these experts are instructed when a claimant or defendant exhibits complex trauma symptoms. They utilise validated clinical tools such as the CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale) to provide robust evidence on:
Qualifications & Registration
When to Instruct a Trauma Specialist
Trauma specialists are appropriate for cases where psychological injury is the primary focus of litigation. Instruct this expert type when you need a trauma assessment for:
Causation
Determining if a specific index event (e.g. RTA, assault) is the primary cause of PTSD symptoms.
Historic Abuse
Evaluating the long-term psychological impact and delayed disclosure in historic abuse cases.
C-PTSD
Assessing complex trauma resulting from prolonged, repeated exposure to traumatic events.
Workplace Trauma
Assessing vicarious trauma or PTSD resulting from occupational exposure in high-stress roles.
Prognosis
Expert opinion on the likelihood of recovery and the necessity of specialist EMDR or trauma therapy.
Military Claims
Specialist assessment for service-related trauma and AFCS or War Pension claims.
Legal Areas Covered
Our trauma specialists provide expert evidence across the following legal areas:
Personal Injury
PTSD assessment personal injury claim solicitor services for RTAs, workplace accidents, and assaults.
Employment Law
Workplace trauma, harassment, and vicarious trauma for emergency service or healthcare personnel.
Clinical Negligence
Psychiatric injury and trauma resulting from medical error or birth-related trauma.
Criminal Law
Trauma-informed evidence for victims of serious crime or defendants with trauma-related histories.
Human Rights
Istanbul Protocol assessments for asylum seekers and victims of torture or modern slavery.
CICA Appeals
Specialist evidence for Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority appeals and tariff assessments.
Conditions Assessed
Primary Trauma
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Traumatic Bereavement
Dissociative Disorders
- Dissociative Amnesia
- Depersonalisation Disorder
- Derealisation Disorder
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
Stress & Adjustment
- Adjustment Disorder
- Secondary Traumatisation
- Compassion Fatigue
- Workplace Burnout
Comorbid Mood
- Trauma-Related Depression
- Generalised Anxiety (GAD)
- Panic Disorder
Personality Pathology
- Borderline Personality (EUPD)
- Attachment Disorders
- Emotional Dysregulation
Coping Mechanisms
- Substance Use Disorders
- Self-Harm Behaviours
- Trauma-Induced OCD
Our Assessment Process
Instruction Received
Submit your instruction with case details
Expert Matched
We identify the most suitable psychiatrist
CV & Quote Sent
Expert CV and fee estimate within 1 hour
Assessment Scheduled
Face-to-face or video appointment arranged
Clinical Assessment
Comprehensive psychiatric interview
Report Delivered
CPR Part 35 compliant report delivered
What’s Included in the Expert Report
Report Contents
- Instructions and documents reviewed
- Relevant background history
- Account of index event(s)
- Psychiatric history
- Mental state examination findings
- Psychometric test results (where used)
- Diagnosis with DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria
- Opinion on causation
- Severity and functional impact assessment
- Prognosis with and without treatment
- Treatment recommendations with costs
- Statement of truth and declaration
Quality Standards
Why Instruct Our Trauma Specialists?
1,500+ Experts
The UK’s largest panel of psychiatrists and psychologists available nationwide
CVs in 1 Hour
Rapid response with expert CVs and fee quotes
Urgent Reports Available
1-4 day turnaround for court deadlines
Nationwide Coverage
Experts located across the UK, plus remote video assessments
Section 12 Approved
Majority of our adult psychiatrists hold Section 12 approval
Court Experienced
Experts experienced in oral evidence, joint statements, and cross-examination
Fees & Funding Options
Private / Insurance
- Competitive fixed fees
- Fee estimate provided upfront
- Deferred payment available
- Direct billing to insurers
Legal Aid (LAA)
- LAA rates accepted
- Prior authority applications supported
- Experienced in publicly funded cases
Court / CPS Funded
- Crown Court rates
- CPS panel experience
- Court-appointed instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard PTSD typically results from a single traumatic event. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) results from prolonged or repeated exposure to trauma, often where escape is difficult (e.g., childhood abuse, domestic violence, or captivity). C-PTSD includes core PTSD symptoms plus additional difficulties in emotional regulation, identity, and relational functioning.
Causation is assessed by reviewing pre-morbid medical records, conducting a detailed clinical interview, and applying the ‘but for’ test. The expert determines if the symptoms would have occurred regardless of the index event or if the event was the material cause of the psychiatric injury.
Yes. Trauma specialists are frequently instructed in historic abuse cases to evaluate long-term psychological damage, provide evidence on delayed disclosure (often common in trauma victims), and assess the impact on the claimant’s life trajectory and employment capacity.
Our experts use the gold-standard Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) alongside DSM-5 or ICD-11 diagnostic criteria. They may also employ psychometric screening tools like the PCL-5 and PAI to ensure clinical accuracy and identify potential symptom exaggeration.
Yes. Remote video assessments are effective for PTSD and trauma evaluations. However, the expert will always assess whether a remote setting is appropriate for the individual, particularly if they are highly dissociative or in acute distress, in which case a face-to-face appointment may be recommended.
While all psychiatrists are trained in mental health, a trauma specialist has dedicated their clinical practice to the study and treatment of trauma. They possess deeper insight into the nuances of complex trauma, dissociation, and the specific physiological impacts of long-term arousal and reactivity.
Instruct a PTSD / Trauma Specialist Today
CVs and quotes in 1 hour. Urgent reports in 1-4 days. The UK’s largest panel of Section 12 approved trauma specialist psychiatrists.
