Dr Deirdre MacManus is a Clinical Reader at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience where she has been a clinical academic since 2009. Her current research interests include Psychological Trauma, in particular complex trauma, diagnosis and treatment of Complex PTSD, understanding its sequelae in forensic populations, and the practice of Trauma Informed Care. She has a special interest in military trauma and mental health and has undertaken much research with King’s Centre for Military Health Research, in particular research into Domestic Abuse in the military community. She has been awarded funding from the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, published widely in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and regularly presents her work in national and international fora. She co-leads the Forensic Research Group, is a module leader on the Forensic Mental Health MSc and supervises both PhD and MSc level research students.

She obtained her degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Edinburgh and subsequently completed her General Psychiatry training in Northern Ireland. She pursued specialist training in Forensic Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, London, while also undertaking a PhD in Psychological Trauma and Antisocial Behaviour in the UK military, at King’s College London.

Alongside her work as a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Dr MacManus has developed clinical expertise in psychological trauma, its assessment and treatment, and the practice of Trauma Informed Care. She was previously the Trauma Lead in HMP Wandsworth. She has been the Lead Consultant Psychiatrist for the London NHS Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Services since 2011 (a London-wide mental health service for ex-military veterans), and is currently joint Head of Service.

Research Interests

• Psychological Trauma: aetiology, assessment and treatment
• Trauma Informed Care
• Antisocial behaviour and offender populations
• Occupational trauma and mental health, e.g. Military
• Domestic Violence and Abuse
• Clinical outcomes, service evaluation and development

Research Groups

• Co-lead the Forensic Research Group
• A member of King’s Centre for Military Health Research group
• Holds an honorary research position at UCL, Division of Psychiatry

Expertise and Public Engagement

• Sits on the advisory panel for The Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services.
• Chair of the Clinical Research Board for the London NHS Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Services.
• An expert advisor to the development of a clinical pathway for traumatic stress in Welsh prisons.
• An advisor to the work of a global organisation, Human Rights in Mental Health-FGIP, and member of an internationally funded task force developing trauma informed prison services in Ukraine post Russian invasion.
• Dr MacManus' research has had a high impact on domestic policy and research (revision of UK MoD Domestic Abuse Strategy 2018, informed new Domestic Abuse Policy 2021, improvement of trauma informed care in the female prison estate, understanding of treatment needs of veterans in NHS and CJS to inform development of services).
• Contribute to training in the NHS and Justice Sector in Veteran Awareness/Veteran Sensitive Practice.