Methodology in Neuropsychological Assessment

Methodology in Neuropsychological Assessment: An Interpretative Approach to Guide Clinical Practice provides practical and methodological guidance for neuropsychologists working with people with brain lesions or brain dysfunctions. The textbook underlines the principles that can be used to guide clinicians in recognizing and interpreting signs and symptoms while enabling a complete neuropsychological assessment through a series of well-defined steps. The text provides a detailed methodological approach towards neuropsychological tools, with guidance on how to select the right test and how to interpret the outcome, which can act as a primer for a clinician through every step of the assessment in a coherent and reasoned way.
The textbook presents an exhaustive discussion of the varied tools that a clinician can employ to complete a rigorous and consistent neuropsychological assessment. It guides the reader from the first step of collecting the personal history of the examinee - the anamnesis - to the selection of suitable psychometric tests and scoring, which is accordingly integrated to formulate the neuropsychological diagnosis and write up the neuropsychological report. Chapters also include coverage of the neuropsychological interview with the examinee and their family and the probability of identifying a disorder with a neuropsychological assessment. The authors have further included a series of detailed and explanatory clinical cases from their experience to expand upon the evaluation process.
The textbook is valuable reading for students in clinical neuropsychology who are learning to carry out neuropsychological evaluations as well as clinicians who are seeking to develop a more comprehensive approach towards performing a thorough neuropsychological assessment.

Sara Mondini, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology and Neuropsychological Assessment at the University of Padua, Italy. She has long practice in clinical neuropsychology and has published numerous scientific papers on clinical neuropsychological pathologies like dementia and aphasia along with contributing to the development of cognitive tests. Marinella Cappelletti, PhD, Neuropsychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist is a Reader in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London, UK. She initially trained in neuropsychology at the University of Padua, Italy, and later combined it with experimental psychology and neuroimaging methods during her doctoral and postdoctoral studies in the UK and US. Giorgio Arcara has a degree in Psychology, a PhD in Psychobiology, and a post-graduate master in clinical neuropsychology. He has held a particular interest in the methodology in neuropsychology, and has authored numerous articles and contributions on neuropsychological test development. He further holds a coordination position in a research-oriented hospital.

1. PRINCIPLES, OBJECTIVES AND SETTINGS. 2. ANAMNESIS AND SEMEIOTICS. 3. THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVIEW. 4. PSYCHOMETRIC ASSESSMENT AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS. 5. TEST SCORES. 6. TEST SCORES: ATTRIBUTION AND INTERPRETATION. 7. THE PROBABILITY OF IDENTIFYING A PATHOLOGY IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT. 8. NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS, FEEDBACK AND REPORT. 9. EXAMPLES OF CLINICAL CASES AND REPORTS. 10. APPENDIX 1. Form used by the neuropsychologist to collect signs and symptoms during an assessment. 11. APPENDIX 2. 12. APPENDIX 3. 13. REFERENCES. 14. GLOSSARY.