Clinical Neuropsychology: Definition, What it Studies and Objectives

Among the best-known neurosciences is clinical neuropsychology which is, fundamentally, the discipline in charge of understanding the functioning of the nervous system and how its involvement, especially at the brain level, implies symptomatology.

This branch of knowledge is relatively new, although in the last two centuries it has contributed greatly to understanding how our brain works, especially when it is affected by some type of injury or other problem.

Let’s learn more about clinical neuropsychology, its characteristics and functions, throughout this article.

What is clinical neuropsychology?

Clinical neuropsychology is a branch of psychology which is responsible for studying the relationships between the brain and behavior in the clinical context of disorders

Based on this knowledge, professionals in this discipline, who are clinical neuropsychologists, are able to define a diagnosis based on what is observed in the patient, in addition to establishing a treatment to improve their standard of living.

Clinical neuropsychology is a psychological branch that requires a high degree of specialization from those who dedicate themselves to it Clinical neuropsychologists have deep knowledge about the brain and its functions, in addition to having the ability to relate the symptoms that the patient manifests with the involvement of one area or another of their brain. In this way, those who specialize in this area of ​​knowledge know what the causes and consequences of a neuropathology manifested in the patient are.

Although patients who usually go to these types of professionals suffer from a brain injury caused by some type of impact or disease that damages nerve cells, there are also those who come due to some type of infection, tumor or other medical condition that involves symptoms. psychological and alteration in their cognitive abilities, emotions and behavior in general.

It is a very scientific branch, which has been developing its theoretical and practical corpus through empirical and evidence-based research, in addition to making use of reliable tools such as neuroimaging, batteries of questionnaires and diagnostic methods specific to medicine Neuropsychology combines knowledge from neuroanatomy, neurobiology, neuropathology and psychopharmacology. Thus, it acts as a bridge between the study of the brain and the general nervous system, on the one hand, and the psychological phenomena potentially affected by diseases that may have affected the above (for example, symptoms reflected in decision making, the regulation of impulses, the evocation of memories, etc.).

What are your areas of research and intervention?

What distinguishes a clinical neuropsychologist from a clinical psychologist is the degree of knowledge about the brain he or she possesses, in addition to brain alterations and how they manifest in the person in the form of psychopathology.

In neuropsychology, knowledge and knowing how to use various questionnaires is essential, such as the Stroop test, the MMPI and WAIS among others. Thus, through its interpretation, the neuropsychologist can know the degree of cognitive impairment of the patient, seeing their deficits in learning, memory, attention, reading and writing, problem solving and decision making.

Patients who go to this type of professionals can suffer all kinds of problems at the brain level with symptoms due to traumatic brain injuries, cerebrovascular accidents, brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia, serious mental disorder, developmental problems, autism being the object of study and intervention. Due to this, clinical neuropsychology is present in places such as hospitals, especially in the area of ​​neurology and rehabilitation, as well as psychiatry.

Historical background

Although the term “clinical neuropsychology” was first coined in 1913 by Sir William Osler, the truth is that it could be said that its antecedents date back well before the 20th century.

Although defining it as part of this discipline would, perhaps, be a mistake, the truth is that primitive trepanations, performed during the Neolithic period, could be considered the first techniques remotely related to clinical neuropsychology.

It has been assumed that these practices, which consisted of opening a hole in a person’s skull, had the objective of making the ‘bad spirits’, causing the atypical behavior of the affected person, leave their head. Thus, it could be said that this practice was based on the belief that psychopathology had a brain basis and that it could be dealt with through surgical intervention in the brain.

However, the clearest and most solid roots of modern clinical neuropsychology can be found from the 19th century, in which there were many European doctors who argued that there should be a relationship between the dysfunctional brain and syndromes that their patients expressed.

There were many great figures of that century and the next who contributed to the development of this science. John Hughlings Jackson was the first to hypothesize that cognitive processes take place in parts of the brain and this was confirmed by the findings of Paul Broca and Karl Wernicke through their findings on language problems and affected brain areas.

Others, more from the perspective of statistics and methodology, such as Francis Galton and Karl Pearson, helped to establish research in psychology as we know it today and, therefore, also of neuropsychology.

Regarding the tools used by neuropsychologists, the important task of Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon should not be omitted, who jointly developed the Binet-Simon intelligence scale, setting the precedent for the creation of cognitive evaluation batteries.

However, as has happened with medicine and pharmacology, it is misfortunes that have advanced clinical neuropsychology. The outbreak of the First and Second World Wars, in addition to the Korean and Vietnam wars, caused thousands of soldiers badly injured, many of them with brain damage due to physical trauma, gunshot or hemorrhage Based on their symptoms and the area of ​​the injury, extensive information was obtained about which areas of the brain are responsible for certain functions.

Goals

Fundamentally, the task of the clinical neuropsychologist can be summarized in four main objectives.

1. Diagnosis

Through the use of batteries of questionnaires, observation of pathological behaviors and use of neuroimaging techniques, the neuropsychologist can establish a diagnosis for the patient Thus, it is possible to know if the person’s atypical behavior is due to a true injury, a brain tumor or hemorrhage or, on the contrary, the cause is more psychiatric.

Also, based on the type of behavior displayed by the patient, it is possible to assume, both with and without the use of neuroimaging, in which area of ​​the brain the damage has occurred.

In this phase, Various aspects are evaluated, such as the cognitive abilities of the affected person in addition to its ability to react to environmental stimuli.

2. Patient care

Once the diagnosis is established, it is necessary see the best way to care for the patient to prevent their abilities from being impaired

Patient care not only involves professionals, but the affected person’s environment must also be educated to be a source of support in their recovery.

The relative sensitivity of the questionnaires used in this area and their demonstrated precision allow determine what care the patient requires and prevent deterioration or at least delay it.

Depending on the severity of the patient, monitoring and administration of various tests over time will be necessary, with the intention of observing how the patient progresses.

3. Treatment

The main treatment option for patients who have suffered a neurological injury is, basically, rehabilitation and recovery, to the extent possible, of cognitive deficits

If it is possible and the intervention involves more benefits than risks, surgery, performed by a neurosurgeon, may be another option. Nevertheless, The normal thing is to opt for non-invasive techniques establishing a treatment plan to achieve an increase in your daily performance and promote an increase in your well-being.

4. Research

Clinical neuropsychology is not only dedicated to diagnosing and treating patients. Also, as part of the science that it is, it aims to expand its knowledge through scientific research. In this way, it improves its treatment and diagnostic capacity developing new questionnaires and techniques that allow the improvement of the affected capacities in patients.

Since the brain is perhaps the most mysterious organ in the entire human body, we are constantly delving deeper into its functioning and establishing the areas that are behind specific symptoms.