In many legal cases involving brain injuries or trauma, the event itself may have occurred during childhood, yet the case does not reach court until the person is over the age of 18. These situations are complex and require highly specialised expertise to fully understand the long-term impact. While the injury may have been paediatric in origin, it is essential to have a neuropsychiatrist who specialises in adult assessment to provide an expert opinion in court.
What Is Neuropsychiatry?
Neuropsychiatry is a medical field that combines neurology and psychiatry, focusing on how brain-based disorders affect behaviour, emotions, and thinking. A neuropsychiatrist assesses conditions that involve both the brain and mental health, such as brain injuries, neurodevelopmental disorders, and long-term psychiatric consequences of trauma.
In the context of legal claims, especially those related to personal injury or medical negligence, a neuropsychiatry expert is often asked to evaluate how an event that happened during childhood has affected someone’s adult life. This is where adult expertise becomes critical.
Why an Adult Neuropsychiatrist Is Needed
Although the injury occurred during childhood, the legal case is focused on the adult consequences of that early trauma. A neuropsychiatrist specialising in adult assessments is trained to understand how early neurological or emotional injuries present later in life. For example, a child who suffered a brain injury may now, as an adult, struggle with holding a job, managing relationships, or coping with mental health issues.
An adult neuropsychiatrist is better placed to assess these outcomes in a legal context. They can evaluate current functioning, diagnose long-term cognitive and psychiatric effects, and explain how these issues are linked to the original paediatric injury. Their expertise lies in recognising how childhood events shape adult behaviour, thinking patterns, and quality of life.
A Lifespan Perspective
Expert witnesses in neuropsychiatry must often take a lifespan approach—understanding not just what happened in childhood, but how it has unfolded over time. This requires a careful review of historical medical records, school performance, and family background, alongside a current, adult-focused psychiatric and cognitive assessment.
While a paediatric specialist may be involved in early care or diagnosis, it is the adult neuropsychiatrist who is best positioned to evaluate the current, long-term consequences. This perspective is crucial in court, where the focus is on the person’s current functioning and future prognosis.
At Medico-Legal Healthcare, our team of adult neuropsychiatrists specialise in complex assessments where early-life injuries or trauma have led to ongoing difficulties in adulthood. With expertise in both neuropsychiatry and the legal process, we provide clear, evidence-based expert witness reports tailored to each individual’s history and present-day needs.