Practitioner S Guide To Symptom Base Rates In Clinical Neuropsychology

This volume serves as an aid in the process of differential diagnosis which frequently confronts neuropsychologists. The guide is a compendium of information of the base rates of symptoms across a variety of disorders which neuropsychologists encounter. In addition to serving as a convenient source of information on symptom base rates, this volume also contains detailed cross referencing of symptoms across disorders. It is intended for use by clinical neuropsychologists and psychologists.

This volume is a compilation of the symptoms reported among the control groups from studies involving neuropsychologically impaired individuals and those with various medical and psychiatric conditions. The proposed project represents the logical progression from the previous volume, Practitioner's Guide to Symptom Base Rates in Clinical Neuropsychology. Whereas the previous book presented findings from the patient population, this book will cover the base rate of a particular symptom in the nonpatient/general population. This volume would provide clinicians with the necessary information to interpret any given patient's presenting symptoms relative to what is "normal" in the general population or "normal" for people similar to the patient. When used in conjunction with the previous volume, the clinician will also be able to interpret presenting symptoms relative to what is "typical" for patients with the same condition, allowing the clinician to consider the patient from a variety of standpoints. This volume would be of great usefulness to a wide variety of clinical practitioners in the fields of clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology, forensics, neurology, neuropsychiatry, and psychiatry. The volume would also be useful in a variety of research settings. Examples of its applicability include providing valuable information to medical and psychological professionals working in the pharmaceutical industry in the development of new drugs, as well as professionals working in such areas as epidemiology and environmental health.

The author has written an easily accessible summary of neuropsychological tests, neuropsychiatric disorders, and the relationships of test performance to disorder and treatment strategy. This ready reference provides neuropsychologists with an understanding of the medical context within which neuropsychological evaluation and psychosocial therapy takes place.

The exponential growth of clinical psychology since the late 1960s can be measured in part by the extensive literature on the subject. The field has come to be defined as much by its many topics as its many voices. The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Psychology synthesizes these decades of literature in one volume. In addition to core sections on topics such as training, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention, the handbook includes chapters devoted to emerging issues in the clinical field, including heath care reforms, cultural factors, and technological innovations and challenges. Each chapter offers a review of the most pertinent literature, outlining issues and identifying possibilities for future research.

Mental health professionals often must make judgments or decisions involving vital matters. Is an individual likely to act violently? Has a child been sexually abused? Is a police officer fit to carry a gun? An explosion of research in clinical and cognitive psychology provides practical means for enhancing the accuracy of clinical decision making and prediction and thereby improving outcomes and the quality of care. Unfortunately, this research has not been broadly disseminated in the mental health field. The book is designed to familiarize readers with essential findings from decision science and its practical, immediate applications in the mental health field.

Functional Neurologic Disorders, the latest volume in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology series, summarizes state-of-the-art research findings and clinical practice on this class of disorders at the interface between neurology and psychiatry. This 51-chapter volume offers an historical introduction, chapters on epidemiology and pathophysiolology, a large section on the clinical features of different type of functional neurologic symptoms and disorders (including functional movement disorders, non-epileptic seizures, dizziness, vision, hearing, speech and cognitive symptoms), and then concluding with approaches to therapy. This group of internationally acclaimed experts in neurology, psychiatry, and neuroscience represent a broad spectrum of areas of expertise, chosen for their ability to write clearly and concisely with an eye toward a clinical audience. This HCN volume sets a new landmark standard for a comprehensive, multi-authored work dealing with functional neurologic disorders (also described as psychogenic, dissociative or conversion disorders). Offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach for the care of patients with functional disorders seen in neurologic practice, leading to more efficient prevention, management, and treatment Provides a synthesis of research efforts incorporating clinical, brain imaging and neurophysiological studies Fills an existing gap between traditional neurology and traditional psychiatry Contents include coverage of history, epidemiology, clinical presentations, and therapy Edited work with chapters authored by leaders in the field, the broadest, most expert coverage available

Whereas the roots of the clinical neuropsychology specialty can be found in fields over a century old, it has grown very rapidly during the past thirty years. Doctoral programs in clinical psychology and predoctoral internship programs have developed concentrations in this area, as the need for postdoctoral training in this specialty has become increasingly acknowledged. Typically thought of as the clinical and empirical study of brain-behavior relationships, clinical neuropsychology is firmly grounded in psychology, behavioral neurology, psychiatry, psychometrics, and statistics. In this volume, Drs. Lamberty and Nelson provide a comprehensive overview of the foundational and functional competencies related to the broad field of clinical neuropsychology. The authors distill not only the most important dimensions of the current science and practice, but also delineate important future directions and challenges. Anyone interested in obtaining an extensive survey of the extant literature related to this specialty, as well as insider knowledge on important professional issues, will find this volume to be an invaluable resource. Series in Specialty Competencies in Professional Psychology Series Editors Arthur M. Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu As the field of psychology continues to grow and new specialty areas emerge and achieve recognition, it has become increasingly important to define the standards of professional specialty practice. Developed and conceived in response to this need for practical guidelines, this series presents methods, strategies, and techniques for conducting day-to-day practice in any given psychology specialty. The topical volumes address best practices across the functional and foundational competencies that characterize the various psychology specialties, including clinical psychology, cognitive and behavioral psychology, school psychology, geropsychology, forensic psychology, clinical neuropsychology, couples and family psychology, and more. Functional competencies include common practice activities like assessment and intervention, while foundational competencies represent core knowledge areas such as ethical and legal issues, cultural diversity, and professional identification. In addition to describing these competencies, each volume provides a definition, description, and development timeline of a particular specialty, including its essential and characteristic pattern of activities, as well as its distinctive and unique features. Written by recognized experts in their respective fields, volumes are comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible. These volumes offer invaluable guidance to not only practicing mental health professionals, but those training for specialty practice as well.

This authoritative clinical reference and text provides a complete guide to conducting empirically based assessments to support accurate diagnoses and better clinical care. The book builds crucial skills for gathering and interpreting data for specific assessment purposes. It also presents more advanced ways to integrate information from tests, interviews, observations, and other sources, within a biopsychosocial framework that fully addresses the needs of each client. Particular attention is given to accounting for potential biases that affect every stage of the decision-making process. User-friendly features include case examples, advice on writing reports and giving feedback to clients, and a detailed sample report.