Future episodes – planned, in the works, or already recorded:
-Genetic disclosures of risk for Alzheimer’s disease
Randomized clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease frequently include the measurement of risk genes (i.e., the APOE E4 allele), and advancements in direct-to-consumer genetic testing (e.g., 23andMe) have made these biological data widely available to the public. Is it helpful or harmful for clinicians to disclose information on genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease to patients and research participants? How can we explain concepts such as risk and incomplete penetrance to our patients? We pose these questions, and others, to a neuropsychologist with research and clinical experience in this arena.
-Neuropsychology for non-neuropsychologists, Part 2
We provided an overview of the field of neuropsychology in episode 2, but we have received some questions from listeners asking for clarification on certain points. We will cover those questions as well as interview someone without any background in neuropsychology to talk through other common questions that come up when explaining who we are and what we do.
–Compensatory Cognitive Training
Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) is a growing area of research and clinical practice for neuropsychologists in academic and rehabilitation settings. CCT leverages intact brain networks in order to teach skills that can improve someone’s ability to function independently in day-to-day life, despite the presence of other disrupted brain networks. CCT has wide-reaching applications and can be beneficial for many of the clinical populations neuropsychologists already work with, including individuals with traumatic brain injury, severe mental illness, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. In this episode, we will talk to Elizabeth Twamley, Ph.D., about CCT: how it is applied, similarities to cognitive rehabilitation, what patients benefit most, where the field is going, and much more.
-The science and art of giving feedback: How to effectively deliver neuropsychological results and recommendations
Effective communication of neuropsychological test results and recommendations is a nuanced practice that is considered both a science and an art. The practice of providing feedback is made even more complex by the multiple contexts in which neuropsychological findings must be discussed. In this episode, we interview Karen Postal, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, the past president of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology and the lead author of the book Feedback that Sticks: The Art of Effectively Communicating Neuropsychological Assessment Results. We talk with Dr. Postal about how to provide effective feedback as a neuropsychologist, and how neuropsychologists can refine their communication of findings to maximize the benefit to our patients and referral sources.
-Concussion outcomes in children
Concussions among children and youth are a public health concern. The neurobiological mechanisms of a concussion in a developing brain are distinct from those in adult concussions in respect to injury response, neurophysiological measures, and markers of injury. Although current evidence is continuing to improve the diagnosis and management of concussions in adult populations, the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines for pediatric concussions is still in its infancy. In this episode, we will talk to Keith Yeates, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about concussion outcomes in children, how it differs from adults, and how we can work towards more effective management and treatment. As the current International Neuropsychological Society President, we will also discuss the progression of clinical neuropsychology as a field, as well as challenges we face in the near and distant future.
-Uniform test score labeling: A summary of the 2018 AACN Consensus Conference
There is very little standardization of the qualitative descriptors used in neuropsychological practices across the globe. Terms such as Above Average, Superior, Borderline, and Impaired are used without consistently being anchored to the same standardized scores and percentiles. In this episode, we talk to a member of a group of neuropsychologists who are attempting to decrease confusion by providing a recommended set of guidelines that can benefit all neuropsychological practitioners and trainees.
If you have any feedback or ideas about content for future episodes, please feel free to drop us a line at feedback@navneuro.com