Six Reasons for Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment
Fixed Batteries
- Used by 5% of neuropsychologists
Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery
Impairment Index
Uses a cutoff point to represent the presence or absence of neuropsychological deficits
General Neuropsychological Deficit Score
Flexible Batteries
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-2)
Brief (BV) MMSE
Standard (SV) MMSE
Expanded (EV) MMSE
MMSE-2 Psychometrics
Convergent Validity of MMSE
Expected patterns of correlations with several tests that measure specific aspects of cognitive functions (such as Boston Naming Test, Stroop Test, etc.)
Intelligence
Estimates of premorbid IQ levels and may be used to determine school records or formulas
Achievement
- Individually administered tests (such as Wide-Range Achievement Test)
Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs)
Measure the ability to respond to sequentially presented target stimuli and avoid responding to interspersed non-target stimuli over a long period of time and in the face of boredom
CPTs Measurement
WAIS-IV Attention/Concentration
Trail-Making Test, Part A
- Draw a line connecting 25 numbered circles in order as fast as possible without lifting the pencil off the page
Naming Ability
Boston Naming Test
Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)
Constructional Apraxia
Neglect
Line Bisection
Examinee is asked to bisect lines on a page placed at midline