Clinical neuropsychology

Clinical neuropsychology is a subfield of psychology concerned with the applied science of brain-behaviour relationships. Clinical neuropsychologists apply their research to the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with neurological, medical, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric conditions. The branch of neuropsychology associated with children and young people is called pediatric neuropsychology.

Clinical neuropsychology is a specialized form of clinical psychology focused on research as a focal point of treatment within the field. For instance, a clinical neuropsychologist will be able to determine whether a symptom was caused by a traumatic injury to the head or by a neurological/psychiatric condition. Another focus of a clinical neuropsychologist is to find cerebral abnormalities.

Assessment is primarily by way of neuropsychological tests, but also includes patient history, qualitative observation, neuroimaging and other diagnostic medical procedures. Clinical neuropsychology requires an in-depth knowledge of: neuroanatomy, neurobiology, psychopharmacology and neuropathology.