When should I instruct a neuropsychiatrist instead of a neuropsychologist?

Whenever there is a medical / diagnostic question (organic vs functional, capacity, treatment, prognosis, prescribing). Neuropsychologists can give detailed cognitive profiling but cannot diagnose neurological or psychiatric conditions or comment on treatment in the same way.

Do you cover mild TBI / post-concussion claims where MRI is normal?

Yes, a substantial proportion of our brain-injury work is mild TBI. Normal imaging does not exclude post-concussion syndrome and our neuropsychiatrists are experienced at framing these claims.

Can the same neuropsychiatrist comment on capacity for litigation as well as condition and prognosis?

Yes. A combined report covering both is common in serious-injury cases approaching settlement.

Do you handle Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) claims?

Yes. FND is a recognised diagnosis and our neuropsychiatrists routinely report on FND causation, prognosis and treatment, including in clinical negligence and personal injury.

Can you coordinate with neurology and neuropsychology experts?

Yes, we routinely provide a coordinated neuropsychiatry + neuropsychology bundle and can recommend trusted neurology colleagues where required.

How do you handle malingering / effort questions?

Where in issue, we recommend a parallel neuropsychology assessment with embedded performance-validity testing rather than expecting the neuropsychiatrist to opine on cognitive effort directly.

Civil

Neuropsychiatry Expert Witnesses

Where psychiatric symptoms arise from acquired brain injury, dementia, epilepsy or neurological disease, a neuropsychiatrist is the appropriate expert. We match you to a consultant who can integrate psychiatric, cognitive and neurological evidence in one report.

Royal College sub-specialty trained
Joint working with neuropsychology
Mild TBI / FND experience

Request a neuropsychiatry expert How it works

Expert type

· Consultant neuropsychiatrist (RCPsych sub-specialty)
· Joint instruction with neuropsychology where indicated
· Section 12(2) approved options for criminal cases

Applicable law

· CPR Part 35
· Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Court of Protection)
· CrimPR (organic mental disorder defences)

When needed

· Traumatic brain injury (mild, moderate or severe)
· Post-concussion syndrome
· Dementia capacity questions
· Functional neurological disorder (FND)

Neuropsychiatry vs general psychiatry vs neuropsychology

A neuropsychiatrist is a medically-qualified consultant psychiatrist with sub-specialty training at the brain-behaviour interface. They can diagnose, prescribe and apply psychiatric and neurological frameworks together. Neuropsychology is a non-medical discipline focused on cognitive testing, the two disciplines are complementary, not alternative.

Key assessment components

Pre-injury baseline

Educational, occupational and medical baseline reconstructed from records and collateral history.

Acute and post-acute course

Detailed review of GCS, imaging, post-traumatic amnesia, retrograde amnesia and acute neurosurgical input.

Current neuropsychiatric symptoms

Cognitive, mood, anxiety, behavioural and personality change attributable to the injury.

Cognitive screen

Bedside cognitive assessment; recommendation for formal neuropsychology where indicated.

Differential, organic vs functional

Explicit reasoning on organic, functional (FND) and psychiatric overlay contributions.

Capacity and risk

Capacity under the MCA 2005 where relevant; risk and care needs for serious-injury cases.

Conditions that may affect this assessment

Traumatic brain injury Post-concussion syndrome Dementia (all causes) Epilepsy & NEAD Functional neurological disorder Stroke Multiple sclerosis Parkinson's disease Hypoxic brain injury Korsakoff's syndrome

How we match you to an expert

Tell us about the case

Brief enquiry: case type, jurisdiction, deadline and any specific requirements (Section 12, female assessor, neuropsychiatry expertise).

Same day

Expert shortlist

We propose a matched consultant psychiatrist with confirmed availability, fixed fee and indicative turnaround.

Within 24 hours

Assessment

We coordinate the appointment, papers and any pre-reading. Remote or in-person as the case requires.

1–2 weeks

Report delivered

CPR / FPR / CrimPR-compliant report delivered to your inbox. Addendum work, Part 35 questions and joint statements handled directly with the expert.

Within agreed deadline

Turnaround times

Tier	Time	Notes
Standard	10–14 days from instruction	Standard timescale once papers and assessment are arranged.
Priority	5–10 working days	For approaching trial windows and tribunal listings.
Urgent	2–5 working days	For Crown Court, MHT and tight deadlines where the expert can be cleared immediately.