PSYC31H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Neuropsychological Assessment, Frontal Lobe, Neuropsychological Test
Document Summary
Assessment of executive functions: number of tools to determine the presence of the dysexecutive syndrome, its principal characteristics, functional problems they cause and their severity. Include clinical interview, assessment through questionnaire administration, neuropsychological tests, and behavioral and functional assessment. In acute phase of illness where patient is in a protected environment (e. g. hospital) they have little experience to base their answers, and for clinicians to base judgement. In this context, in the absence of direct testing, because deficit has not been detected and one cannot infer that it is not there: reduced insight is. And humor appreciation, changes in which there is a long history of association with frontal lobe dysfunction. Items sample four broad areas of difficulty attributable to the dysexecutive syndrome: emotional or personality changes, motivational changes, behavioral changes, and cognitive changes: higher rating shows he respondent perceives the problem as more frequent or severe. Clinicians develop their own assessment procedure based on a personal weighting of them.
