2nd Edition

Clinician's Guide To Neuropsychological Assessment

Edited By Rodney D. Vanderploeg Copyright 2000
    562 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    562 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    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.

    Contents: Preface to the Second Edition. Part I: Fundamental Elements of the Assessment Process. R.D. Vanderploeg, Interview and Testing: The Data Collection Phase of Neuropsychological Evaluations. J.A. Schinka, R.D. Vanderploeg, Estimating Premorbid Level of Functioning. C.R. Cimino, Principles of Neuropsychological Interpretation. R.D. Vanderploeg, The Interpretation Process. C.S. Gass, Personality Evaluation in Neuropsychological Assessment. B. Crosson, Application of Neuropsychological Assessment Results. B.N. Axelrod, Neuropsychological Report Writing. Part II: Special Issues, Settings, and Populations. P.D. Retzlaff, M. Gibertini, Neuropsychometric Issues and Problems. G.J. Larrabee, Forensic Neuropsychological Assessment. M. Pramuka, M. McCue, Assessment to Rehabilitation: Communicating Across the Gulf. E.B. Fennell, Issues in Child Neuropsychological Assessment. D.C. Koltai, K.A. Welsh-Bohmer, Geriatric Neuropsychological Assessment. Part III: Approaches and Methodologies. R.M. Bauer, The Flexible Battery Approach to Neuropsychological Assessment. E.W. Russell, The Cognitive-Metric, Fixed Battery Approach to Neuropsychological Assessment. E.W. Russell, The Application of Computerized Scoring Programs to Neuropsychological Assessment.

    Biography

    Rodney D. Vanderploeg

    "This is a 'must have' book if you are a clinical neuropsychologist in training in North America. There is material in the book that will also be of considerable interest to a wider audience, in particular the chapters on interviewing and testing, principles of neuropsychological interoperation, report writing, and neuropsychometric issues and problems. The chapters advocating flexible versus fixed battery approaches are well worth reading by inexperienced and experienced neuropsychologists alike, irrespective of their homeland."
    Cortex

    "...comprehensive and extremely useful for practitioners working in the area of neuropsychology....likely to be of value not only to neuropsychologists as well as forensic psychologists and expert witnesses, but students training in this area."
    Medico-Legal Journal

    Review of the first edition: "...a worthy addition to any clinician's (as well as researcher's) bookshelf."
    The Psychological Record

    Review of the first edition: "...highly recommended as a [supplement in graduate courses]....Unique among neuropsychology texts, it should actually elicit comment and debate among students."
    Contemporary Psychology