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Nicola Fear

Professor Nicola Fear

Professor of Epidemiology

Research interests

  • Psychology
  • Mental Health

Biography

Professor Fear joined the Academic Department of Military Mental Health (ADMMH) at King's College London in 2004. Nicola has also worked as an epidemiologist for the Leukaemia Research Fund (University of Leeds) and the UK Ministry of Defence. Since 2011, Professor Fear has been Director of the King’s Centre of Military Health Research (KCMHR) alongside Professor Sir Simon Wessely. In 2014, King’s College London awarded Nicola a Chair in Epidemiology. Professor Fear is one of the Principal Investigators on the KCMHR military cohort study and leads several studies looking at the impact of military service on families. Nicola obtained a BSc(Hons) in Pharmacology from King’s College London before training as an epidemiologist the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London) and the University of Oxford.

Research Interests

  • Military
  • Veterans
  • Armed Forces community
  • Mental health
  • Families including children
  • Emergency responders

Research Groups

  • King’s Centre for Military Health Research
  • Academic Department of Military Mental Health
  • Conflict Health Research Group

Teaching

  • BSc in Psychology (3rd year module, War in the Mind)
  • MSc in War and Psychiatry

Expertise & Public Engagement

  • Trustee of Help for Heroes
  • Specialist adviser to NHS Digital on the release of patient data
  • Previous participant of SPI-B during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic

    Research

    mental health conflict hero
    Centre for Conflict & Health Research

    Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.

    pexels-imprensa-agruban®-10501127
    King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR)

    The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King’s College London, is the leading civilian UK centre of excellence for military health research.

    drinksration
    DrinksRation

    DrinksRation is a smartphone app designed to reduce alcohol misuse in the Armed Forces using digital technology and behavioural change theory.

    Project status: Ongoing

    hwstudy
    Health and Wellbeing Cohort Study

    A long-term study investigating the health and wellbeing of UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Project status: Ongoing

    Chemical Weapons
    The Porton Down Veterans Cohort Study

    A study exploring long-term health of former servicemen who were exposed to chemical warfare agents as part of the ‘human volunteer programme’ at Porton Down.

    Project status: Ongoing

    pexels-rodnae-productions-7468213
    VeteransCHECK

    A study investigating the current experiences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of ex-serving personnel.

    Project status: Ongoing

    military-stress2
    Academic Department of Military Mental Health

    The Academic Department of Military Mental Health, undertakes military mental health research and development for the UK Armed Forces.

    News

    New report explores the facilitators and barriers to servicewomen successfully transitioning out of the Armed Forces

    A new report from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has explored the experiences of servicewomen of the British...

    women soldiers 780x440

    Sustaining a serious physical injury in combat raises risk of illegal drug use in Armed Forces personnel, but is it due to their injury? Or is something else involved?

    New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that UK Armed Forces personnel who sustain serious...

    drugs

    Celebrating King's colleagues recognised in 2025 New Year Honours List

    Congratulations to everyone who received honours from King Charles III this year

    Profile pictures of recipients: Professor Nicola Fear, Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashim, Professor Dame Stephanie Amiel,  Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, Professor Kate Tchanturia Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, Professor Martin Wooster

    New Year Honours for IoPPN Researchers

    Congratulations to Professor Nicola Fear, Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, Professor Kate Tchanturia and Professor Keyoumars Ashkan who were recognised in the 2025...

    IoPPN New Years Honours 2025

    RAND Europe and King's College London to run military research centre

    Leading UK military research organisations have joined together to run a military research hub, curating a free and accessible evidence base of research into...

    Team of soldiers 1903x558

    More than 1 in 10 Armed Forces personnel have experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse

    New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that Armed Forces personnel are significantly more...

    Army helmets

    KCMHR's research continues King's College London's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant

    Following Armed Forces Day (25 June 2022), the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) helps to reaffirm King’s College London’s commitment to the...

    army-veteran-family

    Armed Forces Personnel who are injured in combat at greater risk of poor mental health

    Members of the British Armed Forces who were physically injured while fighting in Afghanistan are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to...

    Soldier- main

    Veterans Mental Health Conference 2022

    The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCHMR), the leading civilian centre of excellence for military health research in the UK, presented the 2022...

    women soldiers 780x440

    Hearing problems associated with adverse mental health outcomes in the UK Armed Forces

    Members of the UK Armed Forces who experience hearing problems were more likely to report adverse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse.

    KCMHR - audio problems

      Research

      mental health conflict hero
      Centre for Conflict & Health Research

      Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.

      pexels-imprensa-agruban®-10501127
      King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR)

      The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR), King’s College London, is the leading civilian UK centre of excellence for military health research.

      drinksration
      DrinksRation

      DrinksRation is a smartphone app designed to reduce alcohol misuse in the Armed Forces using digital technology and behavioural change theory.

      Project status: Ongoing

      hwstudy
      Health and Wellbeing Cohort Study

      A long-term study investigating the health and wellbeing of UK military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

      Project status: Ongoing

      Chemical Weapons
      The Porton Down Veterans Cohort Study

      A study exploring long-term health of former servicemen who were exposed to chemical warfare agents as part of the ‘human volunteer programme’ at Porton Down.

      Project status: Ongoing

      pexels-rodnae-productions-7468213
      VeteransCHECK

      A study investigating the current experiences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of ex-serving personnel.

      Project status: Ongoing

      military-stress2
      Academic Department of Military Mental Health

      The Academic Department of Military Mental Health, undertakes military mental health research and development for the UK Armed Forces.

      News

      New report explores the facilitators and barriers to servicewomen successfully transitioning out of the Armed Forces

      A new report from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has explored the experiences of servicewomen of the British...

      women soldiers 780x440

      Sustaining a serious physical injury in combat raises risk of illegal drug use in Armed Forces personnel, but is it due to their injury? Or is something else involved?

      New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that UK Armed Forces personnel who sustain serious...

      drugs

      Celebrating King's colleagues recognised in 2025 New Year Honours List

      Congratulations to everyone who received honours from King Charles III this year

      Profile pictures of recipients: Professor Nicola Fear, Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashim, Professor Dame Stephanie Amiel,  Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, Professor Kate Tchanturia Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, Professor Martin Wooster

      New Year Honours for IoPPN Researchers

      Congratulations to Professor Nicola Fear, Professor Safa Al-Sarraj, Professor Kate Tchanturia and Professor Keyoumars Ashkan who were recognised in the 2025...

      IoPPN New Years Honours 2025

      RAND Europe and King's College London to run military research centre

      Leading UK military research organisations have joined together to run a military research hub, curating a free and accessible evidence base of research into...

      Team of soldiers 1903x558

      More than 1 in 10 Armed Forces personnel have experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse

      New research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has found that Armed Forces personnel are significantly more...

      Army helmets

      KCMHR's research continues King's College London's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant

      Following Armed Forces Day (25 June 2022), the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) helps to reaffirm King’s College London’s commitment to the...

      army-veteran-family

      Armed Forces Personnel who are injured in combat at greater risk of poor mental health

      Members of the British Armed Forces who were physically injured while fighting in Afghanistan are more likely to experience poor mental health compared to...

      Soldier- main

      Veterans Mental Health Conference 2022

      The King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCHMR), the leading civilian centre of excellence for military health research in the UK, presented the 2022...

      women soldiers 780x440

      Hearing problems associated with adverse mental health outcomes in the UK Armed Forces

      Members of the UK Armed Forces who experience hearing problems were more likely to report adverse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse.

      KCMHR - audio problems