E-Book Overview
Cognitive impairments occur with alarming frequency, and the ability to recognize them in a patient is crucial to the general practitioner in psychology. Treating Patients with Neuropsychological Disorders: A Clinician's Guide to Assessment and Referral, by Jeffery B. Allen, is the essential guide for practitioners working with patients who may have neurological disorders. These disorders are so prevalent that no mental health practitioner can afford to be without the guidance offered in this book. Because neuropsychological guidelines grow more complex over the years, the general practitioner can easily feel overwhelmed when faced with the prospect of having to refer a patient to a neuropsychologist. While other books merely provide information on screening patients for these disorders, this volume offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities that often accompany work with clients suffering from cognitive impairment. This book will provides the practitioner with background information on neurological disorders, how to recognize their symptoms in clients, and how to read neuropsychological reports. This book will help the practitioner understand the basics of neurological disorders, testing, and assessment, and what to expect from neuropsychological referrals, making it an invaluable reference tool.
E-Book Content
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Chapter
Clinical Neuropsychology and Allied Disciplines
Mvolved
any general practitioners encounter neurologicully inclients, those who manifest symptoms of a neurological illness or injury. When this occurs, the general practitioner can refine treatment by utilizing the resources of a variety of allied disciplines. Clinical neuropsychologists are just one type of specialist who can provide insight and assistance regarding neurologically involved clients. Others are physiatrists, neurologists, psychiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, recreational therapists, clinical social workers, and vocational rehabilitation counselors. General clinicians can obtain information from allied professionals with whom a client has already had contact, or he or she can refer to such professionals for assistance with the client. In this chapter I provide information about background, training requirements, and facility placements for the newer or less familiar disciplines. Appendix A is a list of contact organizations that can provide more information about these fields.
Clinical Neuropsychology Clinical neuropsychology involves the study of brainbehavior relations. To understand, assess, and provide treat11
12 N E U R O P S Y C H O L O G I C A L D I S O R D E R S
ment for neuropsychological disorders, the field integrates the knowledge bases of behavioral neurology, classical neuroscience, and psychometric theory. Through the study of normal and damaged neural systems, clinical neuropsychologists attempt to understand disrupted functions in the domains of attention, learning, and memory; visuoperceptual abilities; language; and executive control (frontal lobe functions). They also are concerned with the impact of altered functioning on overarching human phenomena, such as selfawareness, emotional expression, and personality in general. In practical terms, clinical neuropsychologists focus on developing useful and reliable assessment strategies and effective means of intervention for these issues. The typical neuropsychologist has obtained a PhD in clinical psychology, with an emphasis on coursework in brainbehavior relations and related practicum experiences. In addition, many neuropsychologists complete specialty internships and postdoctoral training that often take place in medical settings. Clinical neuropsychologists practice in general hospitals and postacute rehabilitation hospitals. They also may be found in academic an