Patients may be referred to a clinical psychologist through their GP, neurologist, social services or specialist nurses.
Clinical Psychologists have a background in psychology with extensive training in clinical assessments and treatment of psychological disorders. In general, psychologists work with people who have mental health problems but some specialise in helping people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and amnesia; these are called neuropsychologists.
Neuropsychologists conduct neuropsychological assessments which measure a person’s cognitive, emotional and behavioural abilities. Cognitive abilities are mental functions, like language, concentration, memory, problem-solving and perception.
Neuropsychological tests are typically pen and paper tests. They measure different mental functions which are associated with specific areas of the brain. The results of the tests are compared with the average ability of people in your age group. Poor performance may suggest that an area of the brain is not functioning properly. This information can be used by a neurologist to help make a diagnosis of your problem.
Neuropsychologists are also involved in helping people adjust to the diagnosis of different neurological conditions. They may be involved in treatment by offering one-to-one sessions, through group work or by referring patients to other services which are available locally.
Other Methods of Investigation
