A Guide to Neuropsychological Testing for Health Care Professionals


Book Description

Neuropsychological assessments are now widely used to identify learning disabilities and shape educational interventions. However, many special education teachers, speech therapists, lawyers, pediatricians, psychiatrists, rehabilitation counselors, and a host of other "helping" professions know very little about how to interpret and act on information contained in neuropsychological assessments. The neuropsychological evaluations discussed in this text help shed light on a wide variety of psychiatric and medical conditions, including learning disabilities, severe and persistent mental illness, traumatic brain injury, neuropsychiatric disorders with accompanying chronic cognitive deficits, and acquired or congenital neurological conditions. This book emphasizes the breadth and depth of neuropsychological assessments and the many practical uses they have, such as treatment planning, diagnosis, interventions, and many more. The authors offer practical guidance on neuropsychological testing and assessment across the lifespan, from pediatric through geriatric patients. The book is designed specifically for those professionals with little to no training in neuropsychology that need to apply knowledge gleaned from neuropsychological assessments. Key topics discussed: Neuropsychological testing and psychoanalysis Using neuropsychological instruments in school settings: possibilities and limitations Using neuropsychological information in vocational rehabilitation planning Neuropsychology and speech/language therapy







Neuropsychological Assessment in Clinical Practice


Book Description

Neuropsychological Assessment in Clinical Practice A Guide to Test Interpretation and Integration Written with the graduate student and practicing clinician in mind, this book covers today's most important issues in neuropsychological assessment, including: * Strategies for interviewing and interpretive guidelines to the most frequently used assessment instruments * Instructions for using test results to develop treatment and case plans * WISC-III, WAIS-III, WMS III, Halstead-Reitan, Luria Nebraska, and additional tests organized according to various functional domains * Principles, guidelines, and examples of how to write problem-oriented, effective neuropsychological reports Praise for Gary Groth-Marnat's Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Third Edition "A commendable volume in which the author condenses information, normally in several locations, into one reading." -Contemporary Psychology "The general purpose of this handbook is to provide a reference and instructional guide for professionals and students who are conducting psychological assessments. This purpose has been splendidly realized by Groth-Marnat, who has combined current scientific and clinical understanding and clear writing with an excellent sense of organization." -Psychology




Neuropsychology for Health Care Professionals and Attorneys


Book Description

Regardless of your specialty - physician, psychologist, nurse, rehabilitation specialist, or attorney -post-traumatic stress disorder cases and brain injury cases are arguably the most difficult to understand, treat, and evaluate. All of the tools you need are in the new Neuropsychology for Health Care Professionals and Attorneys, Second Edition. It contains An easy-to-understand description of the neuroanatomy of the brain Four chapters devoted to neurobehavioral disorders such as amnesia, attentional deficits, delirium, dementia, disorders of executive functions of the brain, electrical injury, hypoxic encephalopathy, neurotoxic encephalopathy, learning disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), post-concussive syndrome, seizure disorders, and others A detailed description of neuropsychological assessment, including a critique of approximately 80 neuropsychological tests: their intended use, purpose, administration, sensitivity to brain damage, reliability, validity, strengths, and limitations How factors such as medical illness, medication, psychiatric disorders, stress, anxiety, culture, language, suboptimal motivation, and pre-existing neurological disorders can alter test performance Ways to determine whether the neuropsychological test results are consistent with brain damage or due to non-neurological factors A discussion of how the use of test norms can result in the misdiagnosis of brain damage A critical review of actual neuropsychological reports A glossary of neuropsychological and neurological terms




Physician's Field Guide to Neuropsychology


Book Description

This unique volume teaches those in the medical fields about the scientific value of neuropsychology in assessing cognition, the 6th vital sign, as part of well integrated collaborative care. It offers physicians a comprehensive tour of the many dimensions neuropsychology can add to primary and specialized medical care across the lifespan. Noted experts examine cognitive ramifications of a wide range of medical, psychological, and neuropsychological conditions, among them brain tumors, stroke, epilepsy, pediatric and adult TBI, schizophrenia, and adult ADHD. The books generous selection of case examples demonstrates the benefits of cognitive assessment in building accurate diagnoses, better understanding of patient needs, and more appropriate treatment and management strategies, as well as other neuropsychologist roles in consulting, referral, and forensic areas. In addition, tables, callout boxes, review questions, and other features are included throughout the text for ease in comprehension and retention. A sampling of the coverage: · The value of neuropsychological evaluation in medical practice. · A model of collaboration between primary care and neuropsychology. · Neuropsychological assessment of extremely preterm children. · Alzheimers Disease and overview of dementia. · Deep brain stimulation for Parkinsons Disease. · Neuropsychology in the 21st century: the rise of multicultural assessment. · Neuropsychological interventions for individuals with brain injury. The Physicians Field Guide to Neuropsychology is both a rigorous and an accessible reference for clinicians in diverse disciplines including general practice, family medicine, neuropsychology, pediatrics, gerontology, and sports medicine.




Clinician's Guide To Neuropsychological Assessment


Book Description

Neuropsychological assessment is a difficult and complicated process. Often, experienced clinicians as well as trainees and students gloss over fundamental problems or fail to consider potential sources of error. Since formal test data on the surface appear unambiguous and objective, they may fall into the habit of overemphasizing tests and their scores and underemphasizing all the factors that affect the validity, reliability, and interpretability of test data. But interpretation is far from straightforward, and a pragmatic application of assessment results requires attention to a multitude of issues. This long-awaited, updated, and greatly expanded second edition of the Clinician's Guide to Neuropsychological Assessment, like the first, focuses on the clinical practice of neuropsychology. Orienting readers to the entire multitude of issues, it guides them step by step through evaluation and helps them avoid common misconceptions, mistakes, and methodological pitfalls. It is divided into three sections: fundamental elements of the assessment process; special issues, settings, and populations; and new approaches and methodologies. The authors, all of whom are actively engaged in the clinical practice of neuropsychological assessment, as well as in teaching and research, do an outstanding job of integrating the academic and the practical. The Clinician's Guide to Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition will be welcomed as a text for graduate courses but also as an invaluable hands-on handbook for interns, postdoctoral fellows, and experienced neuropsychologists alike. No other book offers its combination of breadth across batteries and approaches, depth, and practicality.




Neuropsychology for Psychologists, Health Care Professionals, and Attorneys


Book Description

Extensively revised and expanded, this third edition of Neuropsychology for Psychologists, Health Care Professionals, and Attorneys provides a clear, concise, and comprehensive discussion of neuropsychology, outlining its purpose, use, and historical development. It covers the anatomy of the brain, a wide variety of neurobehavioral disorders, compr




Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment


Book Description

Quickly acquire the knowledge and skills you need to confidently administer, score, and interpret the most popular neuropsychological assessment instruments Neuropsychological testing can identify changes in cognition, behavior, and emotion; aid in determining the cause of a disorder or developmental problem; and assist clinicians in planning treatment and rehabilitation. To use these tests properly, professionals need an authoritative source of advice and guidance on how to administer, score, and interpret them. Now fully revised and in a second edition, Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment is that source. Completely updated to include the most current instruments, including the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV), and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV), Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition presents an overview of the assumptions, logic, knowledge base, and skills underlying the practice of neuropsychological assessment. Neuropsychological experts Nancy Hebben and William Milberg describe how clinical history, behavioral observations, and formal test results are used to make inferences about the contribution of brain dysfunction to psychological functioning. Like all the volumes in the Essentials of Psychological Assessment series, this book is designed to help busy mental health professionals quickly acquire the knowledge and skills they need to make optimal use of major neuropsychological assessment instruments. Each concise chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as test questions that help you gauge and reinforce your grasp of the information covered. Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition provides comprehensive instruction on neuropsychological test administration, scoring, interpretation, and report writing. It also addresses practical and conceptual issues related to neuropsychological assessment in geriatric, pediatric, forensic, and other specialized settings. Other titles in the Essentials of Psychological Assessment series: Essentials of Assessment Report Writing Essentials of WAIS-IV Assessment Essentials of WISC-IV Assessment, Second Edition Essentials of WIAT-II and KTEA-II Assessment Essentials of WJ IIITM Cognitive Abilities Assessment Essentials of WJ IIITM Tests of Achievement Assessment Essentials of School Neuropsychological Assessment Essentials of Cross-Battery Assessment, Second Edition Essentials of KABC-II Assessment Essentials of NEPSY Assessment Essentials of Executive Function Assessment Essentials of Processing Assessment




Rehabilitation of Neuropsychological Disorders


Book Description

Many contemporary neuropsychology texts focus on neuropathology, the description of specific tests, and the differential diagnosis of central nervous system disorders. However, increasingly sophisticated neuroradiological techniques, managed care factors, and the growth of rehabilitation necessitates that rehabilitation professionals provide more functionally (versus diagnostically) useful evaluations to improve the neuropsychological functioning and community integration of persons with brain injuries or diseases. This book aims to fill this gap and to provide an overview of standard neuropsychological treatment strategies for specific cognitive impairments that are identified on testing. The new edition enhances this goal with three chapters outlining important recommendations, services, and issues for rehabilitation professionals. Written by a team of experienced scientists and professionals, the volume provides a universal taxonomy of neuropsychological abilities (emphasizing relatively simple terms), with a list of basic rehabilitation strategies to improve impairments identified in general cognitive domains. Specific chapters are included on the neuropsychological remediation of memory, attention, language, visual-spatial skills, and executive function impairments. Each chapter proposes a taxonomy of relatively unitary cognitive constructs (e.g., divided attention, sustained attention, focused attention), lists tests which may be used to assess each cognitive construct, and provides specific rehabilitation strategies to improve or accommodate the identified neuropsychological impairments. The final chapters cover basic resources and issues of which the rehabilitation professional needs to be aware (vocational rehabilitation, disability determination, and guardianship issues). This new edition provides a wealth of useful information for family members, rehabilitation professionals, and others who work with persons with brain injury in improving the community functioning for those with brain dysfunction. An accompanying website facilitates access to the resources and strategies from the book, allowing the practitioner to cut and paste these recommendations into their clinical reports.




A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests


Book Description

This compendium gives an overview of the essential aspects of neuropsychological assessment practice. It is also a source of critical reviews of major neuropsychological assessment tools for the use of the practicing clinician.