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PSYC 806-3 (Day, Spring 2004) Advanced Topics in Assessment: Neuropsychological Evaluation |
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| Instructor | Allen E. thornton, Ph.D. | ||||||||
| Office: | RCB 6316 | ||||||||
| Office Hours: | By appointment | ||||||||
| Semester: | Spring 2004 | ||||||||
| Prerequisites: | |||||||||
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General Description: |
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| This course provides an introduction to the conceptual foundations and methodology of neuropsychological evaluation. In its broadest sense, neuropsychology is conceptualized as the study of brain-behavioural realtionships. In practice, neuropsychological evaluation is a systematic and comprehensive approach to the assessment of cognitive, behavioural and emotional functioning that uses psychological tests and procedures. It encompasses not only brain-behavioural relationships but also more traditional areas of psychology. | |||||||||
Course Objectives: |
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| The specific goals of this course are for students to: 1. develop an understanding of the utility of neurophychological evaluation; 2. understand the differing approaches to evaluation; 3. appreciate the role that psychological and the neurosciences play in the competent neurophychological practice; 4. appreciate the uniqure conceptual and technical challenges involved in evaluating persons with different disorders; 5. understand the basic methods employed in evaluation that are common in neuropsychological practice across various disorders; 6. develop an appreciation of the limitations of neuropsychological evaluation. This class will not: 1. teach you to be a well-trained psychometrist; 2. teach you to write reports (this task is impossible to accomplish in the classroom and is the function of various practica required to train as a neuropsychologist); 3. solely prepare you to be a neuropsychologist (see Houston Conference Guidelines for the most recent rendition of training guidelines). | |||||||||
General Comments: |
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| Rather than a lecture format, the course will be taught primarily thorugh a case study approach that dominates the curriculum for the second half of the semester. This approach highlights a basic issue in evaluation in that it respects the unique challenges of assessment for each particular disorder. | |||||||||
Required Text(s): |
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| 1. Hebben, N. & Milberg, W. (2002). Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment 2. Lezak, M.D. (1995). Neuropsychological assessment (3rd edition). New York: Oxford University Press. 3. Mitrushina, M.N. (1999). Handbook of Normative Data for Neuropsychological Assessment. | |||||||||
Other Material: |
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| Additonal select reading materials including those assigned by the instructor and fellow students. | |||||||||
Evaluation: |
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| LABS/TUTS WILL NOT BE HELD DURING FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES | |||||||||