Dr Michael Newson

Consultant Neuropsychiatrist

BA (Oxon) D.Phil (Oxon) MB BS MRCPsych
Contact Michael
Michael Newson

Overview

Medico-Legal experience

Dr Newson is available as a neuropsychiatric expert witness for both Claimant and Defendant firms in personal injury and clinical negligence cases.

Clinical Practice & Experience

Dr Michael Newson is a Consultant Psychiatrist based in London with specialist expertise in neuropsychiatry, functional neurological disorders, HIV psychiatry, and early intervention in psychosis. Working across both the NHS at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and privately at Maudsley Private Care, he brings over a decade of clinical experience in managing complex presentations at the intersection of neurology, psychiatry, and mental health. His NHS work includes neurodevelopmental assessments for adults with ADHD and autism, as well as care for individuals living with HIV who experience neuropsychiatric or psychological complications.

Dr Newson’s academic background in psychopharmacology and psychoendocrinology informs a broad clinical practice grounded in evidence-based, holistic care. His approach integrates biological, psychological, and social perspectives to treat conditions including psychosis, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related illness, and substance misuse. In addition to his clinical roles, Dr Newson contributes to psychiatric education as part of the MRCPsych critical review panel and holds professional affiliations with key national organisations in psychiatry and neuropsychiatry.

Clinical Interests

Dr Newson’s clinical interests include the neuropsychiatry of acquired brain injury, with a particular focus on both infective and traumatic causes. He has extensive experience in assessing and managing the complex neuropsychiatric consequences that can follow brain injury, including mood and anxiety disorders, cognitive impairments, personality changes, psychosis, and functional symptoms.

His specialist expertise encompasses conditions such as encephalitis, HIV- associated neurocognitive disorders, and post-concussive syndromes. Dr Newson takes a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach, combining detailed neuropsychiatric assessment with tailored treatment planning to support recovery and improve quality of life for individuals living with the lasting effects of brain injury.

Research Interests

Dr Michael Newson’s research interests focus on HIV psychiatry, neuroendocrine modulation, and neuropharmacology. His academic work has explored the impact of hormonal and neurochemical systems on mood and behaviour, with particular attention to how these mechanisms interact in the context of HIV-related neuropsychiatric conditions.

Summary of Publications

Dr Newson has contributed to a diverse range of neuropharmacological and neuroendocrinological research. Early work in 2003, alongside colleagues, investigated the effects of different 5-HT1A receptor antagonists in combination with paroxetine on gene expression in the rat brain. Further research in 2005 and 2006 explored the impact of blocking serotonin receptors and transporters on extracellular serotonin levels, and the pharmacological profile of aripiprazole and its metabolites at dopamine receptors.A significant portion of Dr Newson’s research, beginning in 2009, has focused on the role of apelin in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and fluid homeostasis. This work demonstrated that apelin influences HPA axis function via corticotrophin-releasing factor and vasopressin, and that apelin receptor knockout mice exhibit abnormal fluid balance and altered neuroendocrine responses to osmotic challenges. Further studies revealed the involvement of the vasopressin V1b receptor in stress responses and identified stress-dependent, gender-specific roles for the apelin receptor in HPA axis regulation.More recently, in 2024, Dr Newson collaborated on a study investigating the recording of HIV diagnosis within mental health records, utilizing data linkage to assess the prevalence and characteristics of this data within a clinical cohort.

Prizes and Awards

Royal College of Psychiatry (RCPsych) - Faculty of Addictions Psychiatry Poster Prize (2012)

Memberships of Professional Bodies & Learned Societies

British Medical Association (BMA)

Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)

Case Manager

Paige Johnston

Contact Michael

To appoint Michael call us on +44 (0)161 218 0223.

Email Michael here or use the contact form below.

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