Neuropsychologists come from a variety of clinical and experimental specializations in psychology. They often work with psychiatrists, neurologists, rehabilitation or special education personnel in universities, hospitals and independent practice. The work of clinical neuropsychologists often emphasizes cognitive evaluation and remediation using techniques derived from research. The Neuropsychology Division will work to advance the interests of neuropsychologists around the issues of education, training and practice in New York State. A specific aim will be to educate the public, the health care community and insurers about the services provided by neuropsychologists.
The Division's monthly meetings often contain a program. Recent programs have featured presentations about neuropsychology diplomate training, psychopharmacology training issues, and such practice and research topics as the psychiatric sequelae of head trauma, neurobehavioral effects of environmental toxins, applications of quantitative EEG, and the development and clinical use of the NEPSY, a developmental neuropsychological assessment. The Division has an active insurance committee that, in conjunction with the NYSPA insurance committee, advocates on behalf of neuropsychologists with insurers in New York State.
The Division has created a document, the Neuropsychological Neurodiagnostic Examination, to give insurers specific information about the content of the services provided by neuropsychologists.
The Division has sponsored part-day workshops at the NYSPA annual convention on such topics as forensic neuropsychology and remedial treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities.
The Division encourages the participation of graduate students in neuropsychology at its NYSPA Convention program. In addition to Insurance, the Division has active liaisons with the NYSPA Legislative, Managed Care, and Workers Compensation committees.
Meetings are held on the upper west side of Manhattan (3 West 65th Street, 2nd floor - Holy Trinity Church Rectory building behind main church). Meetings are on the first Monday evening of each month, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
For further information, Dr. Sejal Vyas, President.
| President | Christine Morrison, PhD | |
| President-Elect | Lynn Schadfer, PhD | |
| Past-President | Sejal Vyas, PhD | |
| Membership Secretary | Brian Lebowitz, PhD | |
| Recording Secretary | Hilary Bertisch, PhD | |
| Treasurer | ||
| Representative to Council |
William Barr, PhD |
Neuropsychology Division Newsletter and Document Download Area
Neurodiagnostic Examination
The neuropsychological examination is one of the methods of diagnosing neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and acquired disorders of brain function. It is frequently a part of the overall neurodiagnostic assessment which includes other neurodiagnostic techniques such as CT, MRI, EEG, SPECT. The purpose of the neuropsychological examination is to assess the clinical relationship between the brain/central nervous system and behavioral dysfunction, as well as to participate in differential diagnosis. It is a neurodiagnostic, consultative service and NOT a mental health evaluation or treatment service.
The Social Security Administration defines neuropsychological testing as the "administration of standardized tests that are reliable and valid with respect to assessing impairment in brain functioning." The examination is performed by a qualified neuropsychologist who has undergone specialized education and intensive training in the clinical neurosciences, including the relationship between behavioral functioning and neuroanatomy, neurology, and neurophysiology. The neuropsychologist works closely with primary or consultant physicians in assessing patient cerebral status. Neuropsychological services are designated as "medicine, diagnostic" by the Federal Health Care and Financing Administration (HCFA), are subsumed under "Central Nervous System Assessments" in the 1996 CPT Code Book, and have corresponding ICD diagnoses.
Neuropsychological examinations are clinically indicated and medically necessary when patients display signs and symptoms of intellectual compromise, cognitive and/or neurobehavioral dysfunction that involve, but are not restricted to, memory deficits, language disorders, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders, impairment of organization and planning, difficulty with cognition, and perceptual abnormalities. Frequent etiologies include: head trauma, stroke, tumor, infectious disease, toxic exposure, metabolic abnormalities, autoimmune disease, genetic defects, prenatal/perinatal/neonatal complications, and neurodegenerative disease.
The examination entails the taking of an extensive history (including review of medical records) and the administration of a screening assessment or a comprehensive evaluation that can take many hours and require intensive data analysis. Consultation with other medical professionals such as neurologists, neurosurgeons, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and radiologists is common. The sensitivity of neuropsychological tests is such that they often reveal abnormality in the absence of positive findings on CT and MRI scans. Moreover, they can identify patterns of impairment that are not determinable through other procedures, leading to appropriate treatment recommendations.
Additional information is available on request, regarding the medical nature of neuropsychological examination and its role as part of the standard care of patients with congenital and acquired brain dysfunction.
The Neuropsychology Division’s Commitment to the Dissemination of Expertise through Presentations to the Larger Clinical Community
The NYSPA Neuropsychology Division (NPD) is committed to sharing it’s expertise to assist with topics of great importance to the larger clinical community. For example, there have been many veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with co-morbid concerns such as traumatic brain injuries. The President and President-Elect of the NPD, Drs. John McGinley and Sejal Vyas, gave an invited presentation to the Mental Health Hospital Staff of the Brooklyn Veteran’s Administration on April 11th, 2008 on the “Assessment and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury”. Likewise, NPD Council Representative, Dr. Willam Barr gave a similar talk on the “Assessment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury” to the East Orange, NJ Veteran’s Administration in early-May 2008. Dr. Steven Honor, Insurance Committee Representative for the NPD went high-tech through a recent Podcast on “Concussive Brain Injury” through the Suffolk County Psychological Association.
The leadership of the Neuropsychology Division (NPD) is committed to providing presentations of different topics of importance. For example, Dr. Stanford Singer, Past President and Legislative Committee Representative to the NPD and Current President of the NYSPA Adult Development & Aging Division, provided a recent talk on the “Neuropsychological Assessment and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias” at the NYC Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association on April 27th, 2008. Similarly, Dr. Lynn Schaefer, Treasurer of the NPD will give a presentation on “Aging and Memory Loss” at the St. Francis Heart Hospital on May 18th, 2008.
Organizations or groups interested in presentations on these (or other) topics should contact Dr. McGinley (jmcginle@montefiore.org) or Dr. Vyas (vyas.phd@gmail.com) to inquire about the availability of speakers for particular topics.