Case Formulation in Clinical Neuropsychology

Chapter 4 discusses two epistemological trends have largely evolved over the twentieth century and which continue to underlie clinical neuropsychological case formulation today, the first of which incorporates and integrates idiographic knowledge and emphasizes how the individual is unique and distinct from the lives of others, and the second, which emphasizes nomothetic knowledge and focuses on aspects of the human experience that are ‘lawful’ or universal, regardless of the individual patient under study. It also covers case formulation by focusing on issues relevant to assessment of response validity and effort, assessment of cognitive functioning, assessment of personality and emotional functioning, and population-based case formulation.

Conceptual and Scientific Foundations of Clinical Neuropsychology

Chapter 1 discusses the conceptual and scientific foundations of clinical neuropsychology, including its evolution over the past half century, its clinical medicine and psychometric influences, the development of professional organizations, intelligence testing foundations, neuropsychological assessment foundations, and scope for the future of the specialty.

Future Directions

Chapter 8 discusses ways that neuropsychology and neuropsychologists can help ensure that they are not marginalized as health care goes through inevitable changes. It also covers how successful maintenance of the field’s stability in the current economic landscape will be accomplished only through ongoing efforts to conceptualize professional identity, establish active and fruitful advocacy practices, and demonstrate an empirical evidence base that neuropsychological services are cost effective and beneficial to patients.

The Neuropsychological Evaluation Report

Chapter 5 discusses in detail how some of the general guidelines that inform case conceptualization and formulation in the neuropsychological evaluation may be effectively applied in clinical practice, specifically through the medium of report writing, and provides a relatively brief overview of elements included in clinical neuropsychological report writing.

Ethical Standards of Practice in Neuropsychology

Chapter 7 explores some of the more commonly encountered ethical issues that may arise during neuropsychological evaluation, including informed consent, test and measurement selection, cultural and diversity issues, release of information, the patient report, and feedback. Topics are presented across three chronological phases: pre-evaluation, evaluation proper, and post-evaluation.

Intervention and Consultation in Clinical Neuropsychology

Chapter 6 discusses the circumstances under which neuropsychologists might provide treatment services, and how, as an assessment-oriented profession, neuropsychology has traditionally focused its efforts on diagnosis and consultation. It also covers how the changing practice landscape in professional psychology always affords opportunities to those who might be interested in diversifying their practices. Finally, it address how neuropsychologists’ knowledge of the unique concerns of patients with neurobehavioral disorders positions them particularly well to provide treatment services to individuals who are often clinically challenging and misunderstood.

Assessment Strategies

Chapter 3 offers a descriptive and functional approach to assessment strategies in clinical neuropsychology, including the dichotomies used, standardized batteries (Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRB), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the general neuropsychological deficit scale (GNDS), and the Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery), the Boston Process Approach (BPA), the WAIS-R as a Neuropsychological Instrument, the Kaplan-Baycrest Neurocognitive Assessment, and the California Verbal Learning Test. It also provides select measures of neuropsychological functioning categorized by cognitive domain, and commonly employed instruments in clinical neuropsychology.

Professional Practice of Clinical Neuropsychology

Chapter 2 provides a description of organizations and events that have been central to promoting the field and developing definitions and guidelines for clinical practice in clinical neuropsychology, as well as various historical milestones in clinical neuropsychology. It includes information on the International Neuropsychological Society (INS), American Psychological Association: Division 40 — Clinical Neuropsychology, The Houston Conference, the APA Committee for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology (APA CRSPPP), the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), and the practice of neuropsychology from the consumer’s perspective (the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) and the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN)). It also discusses the problems addressed and populations served by clinical neuropsychologists, as well as sub-specialization within the field.