Navigating Neuropsychology

Research has repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of neuropsychological evaluations to patients and their families.  However, there is great potential for advancement and improvement in the field.  For example, there is growing interest in improving the validity of neuropsychological tests in the assessment and prediction of complex medical conditions using biological, statistical, and informatic techniques.  We discuss these issues with Robert “Bob” Bilder, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, a leader in the conceptual and technical evolution of the field.  We also discuss the problem of inertia, ecological and physiological validity, item response theory, computerized neuropsychological testing, and the National Neuropsychology Network (NNN). Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/33 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Today we bring you the second part of our conversation with Lisa Eyler, Ph.D., on age-related changes in the functional connectivity of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI).  Dr. Eyler also summarizes the literature on the biomarkers of SMI in accelerated aging and the clinical utility of these biomarkers independently and in combination with behavioral strategies.  After the conversation, we provide our own commentary and discuss the use of biomarkers in clinical practice. Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/32 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Severe mental illness (SMI) refers to mental disorders that result in significant functional impairment (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder).  In this episode, we bring you Part 1 of our conversation with Lisa Eyler, Ph.D., about inflammation in individuals with SMI, how inflammation is associated with accelerated aging and other health problems, and the clinical utility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in this population.  We also contrast the approaches of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/31 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

There is a benefit to developing computerized test batteries that can be used across large, longitudinal epidemiologic studies and prevention/intervention trials to facilitate comparison and harmonization across studies.  The National Institute of Health (NIH) Toolbox is a royalty-free battery of tests designed to measure cognitive, sensory, motor, and emotional functioning that can be used across the lifespan and leverages Item Response Theory (IRT).  Over 250 researchers from 80 institutions contributed to the scientific and psychometric development of the NIH toolbox.  Today we bring you our discussion with Julie N. Hook, PhD, MBA, ABPP-CN, about the NIH Toolbox and its current and future use to improve collaboration across multisite, international neuropsychological studies, in addition to potential clinical applications. Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/30 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Karen Postal, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, talked to us about neuropsychological feedback in episode 17 (www.NavNeuro.com/17).  Today, she graciously returns to continue the discussion of how to best deliver feedback and talk about her new book, Testimony That Sticks: The Art of Communicating Psychology and Neuropsychology to Juries. We also spend time talking to Karen about her training and supervision style, as well as her perspective on professional development based on her experience as American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology President and in many other leadership and service roles. Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/29 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Although board certification is not currently required in the field of neuropsychology, the number of board-certified neuropsychologists is rapidly increasing, suggesting that this may become the standard in the near future.  This is relevant for both professionals and trainees because some employers are already beginning to require board certification.  In this episode, we speak to Kira Armstrong, Ph.D., ABPP-CN about the process of becoming board certified, preparation strategies, and how examinees are evaluated. Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/28 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

We discussed INS leadership and research productivity with Keith Yeates, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, in episode 16.  As the most published investigator of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the world over the last 10 years, he returns today to discuss the prevalence rates and causes, behavioral sequalae, differences in outcomes, and psychosocial interventions for children with TBI.  We also discuss symptom rating scales and performance validity tests in the assessment and management of children with TBI, among many other topics.   Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/27  _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Last episode we spoke to Jacobus Donders, Ph.D., ABPP (CN, RP) about neuropsychological report writing (visit www.NavNeuro.com/25).  Today we provide commentary on that episode.  Specifically, we discuss the Postal et al., 2018 “Stakeholders” paper from The Clinical Neuropsychologist as well as takeaways from our conversation with Dr. Donders.  We also review other helpful tips to reduce report length and clinical time spent writing, which could free us up to devote more time for patient care.   Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/26 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

Writing effective reports allows neuropsychologists to share important insights and recommendations gleaned from a neuropsychological evaluation.  Although the format and length of reports may differ depending on the referral source and practice setting, there are common elements in every neuropsychological report.  In this episode, we speak to Jacobus Donders, Ph.D., ABPP (CN, RP), about these common elements and how to increase the effectiveness of our written communication.   Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/25 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]

We discussed the cognitive and emotional effects of electrical injury with Neil Pliskin, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, in Episode 9.  As the former President of the Society of Clinical Psychology (SCN), a Program Director, and a clinical supervisor, he returns today to discuss professional development, the Houston Conference Guidelines, and effective supervision. We also provide our own commentary to delve into the details of these important topics.   Show notes are available at www.NavNeuro.com/24 _________________ If you’d like to support the show, here are a few easy ways: 1) Get APA-approved CE credits for listening to select episodes: www.NavNeuro.com/INS  2) Tell your friends and colleagues about it 3) Subscribe (free) and leave an Apple Podcasts rating/review: www.NavNeuro.com/itunes 4) Check out our book Becoming a Neuropsychologist, and leave it an Amazon rating   Thanks for listening, and join us next time as we continue to navigate the brain and behavior! [Note: This podcast and all linked content is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of psychology or any other professional healthcare advice and services. No professional relationship is formed between hosts and listeners. All content is to be used at listeners’ own risk. Users should always seek appropriate medical and psychological care from their licensed healthcare provider.]