Applications of Neuropsychological Evaluations include the following:
- Provide a differential diagnosis of organic and functional pathologies
- Assess for dementia versus pseudodementia
- Determine the presence of epilepsy versus somatoform disorder (that is, nonepileptic seizures or pseudoseizures)
- Determine the presence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) sequelae versus malingering or unconscious highlighting
- Guide rehabilitation programs and monitor patient progress
- Guide the therapist in referring to specialists
- Provide data to guide decisions about the patient’s condition, such as the following:
- Competency to manage legal and financial affairs
- Capacity to participate in medical and legal decision making
- Ability to live independently or with supervision
- Ability to return to work and school affairs
- Candidacy for transplants
- Provide data to guide the following assessments and procedures:
- Evaluation of the cognitive effects of various medical disorders and associated interventions
- Assessment of tests for diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and clinical drug trials
- Assessment of CNS lesions and/or seizure disorders before and after surgical interventions, including corpus callosotomy, focal resection (eg, topectomy, lobectomy), and multiple subpial transection
- Monitoring the effects of pharmacologic interventions
- Documenting the cognitive effects of exposure to neurotoxins
- Documenting adverse effects of whole brain irradiation in children
- Comparing with guidelines for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) influenced by standardized evaluation of memory
- Standard protocols for assessment of specific disorders, such as dementia of the Alzhiemer type, multiple sclerosis, TBI , and stroke .
*Developmental disorders (eg, specific learning disabilities) require detailed assessment of cognition, academic achievement, psychosocial adjustment for proper identification and as a guide to their management. Academic placement in special education and resource classrooms may be needed.