1st Edition
Rare Conditions, Diagnostic Challenges, and Controversies in Clinical Neuropsychology Out of the Ordinary
This book highlights those rare, difficult to diagnose or controversial cases in contemporary clinical neuropsychology. The evidence base relevant to this type of work is almost by definition insufficient to guide practice, but most clinicians will encounter such cases at some point in their careers. By documenting the experiences and learning of clinicians who have worked with cases that are ‘out of the ordinary’, the book addresses an important gap in the literature.
The book discusses 23 challenging and fascinating cases that fall outside what can be considered routine practice. Divided into three sections, the text begins by addressing rare and unusual conditions, defined as either conditions with a low incidence, or cases with an atypical presentation of a condition. It goes on to examine circumstances where an accurate diagnosis and/or coherent case formulation has been difficult to reach. The final section addresses controversial conditions in neuropsychology, including those where there is ongoing scientific debate, disagreement between important stakeholders, or an associated high-stakes decision. This text covers practice across lifespan and offers crucial information on specific conditions as well as implications for practice in rare disorders.
This book will be beneficial for clinical neuropsychologists and applied psychologists working with people with complex neurological conditions, along with individuals from medical, nursing, allied health and social work backgrounds. It will further be of appeal to educators, researchers and students of these professions and disciplines.
1
Jessica Fish, Shai Betteridge, & Barbara A. Wilson
Introduction: Rare Disorders, Diagnostic Conundrums, and Controversies in Clinical Neuropsychology
Section 1: Rare conditions
2
Urvashi Shah
Gas Geyser Syndrome in India: A Tragic, Preventable Neuropsychological Morbidity
3
Joanna Atkinson
Disconnection syndrome and optic aphasia following left hemisphere posterior cerebral artery stroke: A deductive assessment approach
4
Narinder Kapur & Norman Poole
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease presenting with Capgras Syndrome
5
Julia Cook
A rare and challenging differential diagnosis: Prosopagnosia and reduced empathy in right-variant semantic dementia - where "understanding does not map onto reality".
6
Jwala Narayanan
A life in Portrait mode: Living with Balint’s Syndrome
7
Ben Marram
Exploring the unknown: Shared discovery in rare mitochondrial disease
8
Stephanie Satariano, Louise Edwards, & Roshni Vara
Galactosaemia: A rare metabolic disorder associated with ‘hidden’ deficits and social vulnerability
9
Harter, Catherine & Gracey, Fergus
Anti N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis: post-acute neuropsychological consequences and rehabilitation in adolescence
Section 2: Diagnostic Challenges
10
Alexandra E. Rose & Michael Dilley
Neuropsychological, Neuropsychiatric and Functional Neurological Symptoms: The Challenges of Overlapping and Evolving Presentations
11
Andrew Worthington
Factitious Disorder after severe head injury
12
Joanna Atkinson & Darren Townsend-Handscome
Deafness or brain injury? Diagnostic overshadowing in a deaf person with bilateral temporal lobe damage and visual agnosia
13
Sarah Mackenzie-Ross
Aerotoxic Syndrome: Are passengers and aircrew breathing toxic cabin air?
14
Georgina Browne
Focal Anterograde Amnesia: An Extraordinary Case
15
Sonja Soeterik
"Ugly sound": An examination of acquired receptive amusia in a skilled music critic
16
Victoria Teggart
Variability & Validity: Challenges to Meaningful Neuropsychological Assessment in Mental Health Settings
17
Sally Finnie
Recognising Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adult Neuropsychology Services
18
Jenny Jim, Laura Carroll, Enrique Childress, Louise Owen, Elizabeth Roberts, Isabelle Sharples & Valeria Lowing
What’s in the diagnosis of ‘ASD’ in the context of Paediatric ABI?
Section 3: Controversial issues
19
Rudi Coetzer
The dilemmas surrounding the decision to reject or accept a postgraduate research student with known cognitive difficulties and a history of an arteriovenous malformation several years prior
20
Karen Addy
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Diagnostic Difficulties and Legal Controversies
21
Leigh Leppard
Does this man have or not have mental capacity to make decisions about his discharge from hospital?
22
Sarah Crawford, Sal Connolly, & Alexandra E. Rose
The importance of accuracy when diagnosing Locked-in-syndrome (LIS)
23
Elena Olgiati, Andrew Hanrahan, Paolo Mantovani, Jonathan Hinchliffe, & Sarah Crawford
Ethical and practical issues for the psychologist working with patients with a disorder of consciousness
24
Shai Betteridge & Priyanka Pradhan
Losing memories overnight: A unique form of human amnesia or life imitating art?
Conclusion
25
Jessica Fish, Shai Betteridge, & Barbara A. Wilson
Learning from Experience: How can we best help people with rare, difficult to diagnose, or controversial conditions?
Biography
Dr. Jessica Fish is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. Trained at the universities of Exeter, Cambridge, and King’s College London, she is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Glasgow, and works clinically at St George’s Hospital, London. Her primary expertise is in acquired brain injury and neuropsychological rehabilitation.
Dr. Shai Betteridge is Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist and Chief Psychological Professions Officer at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and a founder and director of Allied Neuro Therapy Ltd. Her fields of expertise include neuropsychological rehabilitation, service development, quality improvement and clinical excellence, spanning both public and private sectors.
Dr. Barbara Wilson is a world-renowned clinical neuropsychologist. Now retired, Barbara has developed 8 neuropsychological tests, written 32 books, and published more than 300 papers and chapters. Her main contributions are in ecologically valid assessment approaches, cognitive rehabilitation and errorless learning, the holistic model of rehabilitation, and disorders of consciousness.
"This excellent book is, in equal parts, fascinating and instructive! So much of our neuropsychological knowledge has emerged from the study of rare conditions and this book continues this vital tradition. By developing a deep understanding of a wide range of rare conditions, diagnostic challenges and controversial issues, we also improve our knowledge of how to manage conditions that are more common in clinical practice. I really enjoyed reading this book and thoroughly recommend it!"
Jon Evans, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Glasgow
"This exceptional text is both groundbreaking and instructive. The detailed and clear presentation of rare cases accompanied by assessment findings, treatment protocols, theoretical implications and patient perspectives provides a roadmap for how to approach complex cases. The work of every clinician and researcher working to enhance the lives of individuals with challenging neurological conditions will be positively impacted by reading this volume and applying its concepts."
McKay Moore Sohlberg, PhD, University of Oregon
"An important text on the complexities of diagnosis in neuropsychology with fascinating case histories by leaders in the field."
Ian Robertson, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin
"Many of these authors [involved in this book] are experts in their respective fields and work in a variety of settings, from NHS to independent sector to private practice, in traditional neuroscience or neurorehabilitation centres, but also within neurodevelopmental, older adult, mental health, aviation, academic, and medicolegal contexts. Such a variety of authors and settings, as well as the range of conditions and issues covered represent considerable strengths of the book… I have no hesitation recommending this book to all neuropsychologists as well as other clinicians working in these areas."
Dr Andrew James, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Leeds UK
