Neuropsychology Central

[Mikayyla]

I have some questions that I hope someone can answer. Please -- if you know the answer -- you would be doing a very good deed by responding.

1) What is the difference between neuropsychology and clinical neuropsychology? I've found many clinical psych programs with neuropsychology emphasis which includes internship. So what's the difference betweent the 2 titles?

2) The only neuropsychology programs I have seen are within clinical psych programs. Does anybody know if there are graduate programs out there that are strictly neuropsychology programs on its own?

3) I have yet to see a written clear definition of what neuropsychology is and what it entails. My questions are (1) what is a clear detailed definition of neuropsychology? (2) does neuropsychology extend into psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorrders? (I did notice that the San Diego neuropsych program has faculty research in said disorders, which is why I'm asking)

Thank you sooooo much for the person who answers this post.

[jjbranback]

Hi Mikkayla! My name is Jennifer and I am applying to grad programs that offer a PhD Clinical Psychology specializing in neuropsychology. I am especially interested in working with children.

As far as I know...
1) The Clinical part of Clinical Neuropsychology means you want to be a "Clinician" you want to work with clients/patients as well as do research and/or academia. However, you can go this route and do research and/or academia only.

Neuropsychology omitting the "Clinical" is when you are interested in mostly research and/or academia. You would be interested in a Neuroscience program as opposed to a Clinical Psychology program specializing in neuropsychology.

2) I have come across very few strictly Neuropsychology programs. Look into the Neuroscience programs I think they will have what you are looking for. They deal with neuropsychology.

3) in neuropsychology you can deal with a very diverse population go to www.div40.org. This is a site in apa.org (American Psychology Assoc.)
The APA has different divisions and div 40 is Clinical Neuropsychology division. I would also look under the Neuroscience programs on university websites...they usually have good explanations.

Hope this helps.......I am sure more advice is on the way for you!

[tob7799]

Donald Hebb (1960) defined neuropsychology as "the scientific study of brain function and behavioral relationships using experimental evidence from sub-human and human species as well as clinical evidence from human brain damage."

That definition is purposefully vague, and maybe a bit outdated (at the time the field was only 15-20 years old). A basic definition that I've used (explaining the field to friends and relatives) is "the study of how brain damage and disorders affect behavior."

In terms of clinical vs. non-clinical neuropsychology, I don't see it as someone who sees/treats patients or not. Instead, I would define a clinical neuropsychologist as someone who studies how a disorder in brain functions cause (or affect) a psychological disorder. Just like how a clinical psychologist may be studying how someone with depression may view his or her environment differently, a clinical neuropsychologist may be studying how that depressed person's limbic system is functioning. Both are doing scientific work, and may not necessarily be treating the person for the depression (though either conceivably could).

The high majority of people who consider themselves neuropsychologist are working with a human population with specific psychological disorders, and would consider themselves clinical neuropsychologist. Most also have a degree in clinical psychology. That is the direction of the field right now. Someone interested in neuropsychology is most likely going to get a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and then work either in academics studying a specific human psychological disorder, or they will go into assessment.

Finally, as you probably picked up from my comments above, there certainly are neuropsychologists who specialize in psychiatric disorders. The difference between them and a psychiatrist (or neurologist) would be that the psychiatrist would be dealing more with the diagnosis and treatment of the patient, whereas the neuropsychologist may study the underlying causes (in terms of certain areas of the brain) as an example. Of course, there is certainly an overlap in the two areas, but also very distinct differences in the scope of each field.

Hope all of this helps to answer some of your questions.

[Mikayyla]

Thank you both for responding. It really helped and I do appreciate it.