1930–2025
Dr David S. Bell was an Australian neuropsychiatrist whose career spanned more than five decades across psychiatry, neurology, forensic medicine and the law.
He trained in Sydney from 1955 and in London in 1961–62 at Queen Square, where he served as clinical assistant to Dr Eliot Slater. After returning to Australia, he took charge of the Psychiatric Research Unit, which brought together neurosurgery, neurology and the mental health disciplines.
Dr Bell developed particular interests in epilepsy and drug addiction. He also established a therapeutic community and spent many years working in group therapy. After moving into private practice in 1970, he applied his experience in neuropsychiatry to the forensic assessment of head injury and related conditions.
His autobiography, Welcome to the Loony Bin: 55 Years in Psychiatry and the Law, is available through this website, together with material relating to his professional work and publications.
Dr Bell died on 2 April 2025. This website is maintained by his family as an archive of his work and to continue making his book and published writings available to readers.
