ABSTRACT
Clinical neuropsychology is an applied science that is concerned with the relationship between the brain and behavior. It integrates the fields of clinical psychology and behavioral neurology. It utilizes specialized psychological tests that have been designed to evaluate a wide variety of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional domains that are dependent on the structural and functional integrity of the brain. It can be used to evaluate individuals suspected of having focal or diffuse brain dysfunction by identifying behavioral, cognitive, and emotional problems that require psychological treatment and cognitive rehabilitation. In addition to the patient’s test data, it relies on information obtained from significant others and academic, vocational, medical, and psychiatric records to determine the patient’s premorbid level of functioning. With this information, the clinical neuropsychologist tries to determine how the individual’s behavioral, cognitive, social, and emotional functioning have been altered by a brain insult, particularly the individual’s ability to detect and monitor environmental cues and stimuli, recognize their behavioral and cognitive deficits, communicate effectively with others, learn and retain information, perform activities at home and in the community, exercise responsible judgment, maintain relationships with others, make new friends, interact with others in social or work settings, work or maintain employment, achieve specific academic or vocational goals, operate a motor vehicle, live independently, handle finances and stress, and cope with the various demands of their family and environment.
