Postgraduate Training in Clinical Neuropsychology

Clinical Neuropsychology

• From The APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists: – “Clinical neuropsychologists study changes in thinking and behaviour that may arise from brain dysfunction such as head injury, epilepsy, neurological disease and stroke, drug and alcohol disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, dementia and psychiatric disorders. – They deal with the cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems related to brain dysfunction through assessment, rehabilitation, education and psychological therapy.”

http://www.psychology.org.au/community/specialist/clinicalneuro/

Clinical Neuropsychology

• Provide evaluations to assist – Diagnosis (e.g., ADHD or dementia) – Treatment planning (e.g., ability to return to work, succeed in school, live alone, manage finances) – Criminal forensic decisions (assist court with information regarding competency to stand trial, mental state at the time of offense) – Civil forensic issues (opinions regarding damage to cognitive abilities, cause and prognosis)

Clinical Neuropsychology

• Provide rehabilitation treatment based on evaluation – Identify cognitive strengths & weaknesses – Assist patient with identifying and implementing compensatory strategies & devices – Provide education to patient, family & support system – Work with schools and voc rehab services

Clinical Neuropsychology employment

– Work in a wide variety of settings: public health sector, hospitals and rehabilitation centres, private practice, medical schools, psychiatric hospitals & clinics, correctional facilities, academia, etc.

– Work with a wide variety of patient populations: Rehab (strokes & TBI), neurologic (tumors, dementia, multiple sclerosis), psychiatric (schizophrenia), children (ADHD), forensic (prisons & forensic psychiatric)

Training options at UWA for 2012

• MPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology)/PhD – Approximately 4 years full time • DPsych (Clinical Psychology, Neuro track) – Approximately 3 years full time

In common: Specialist training in Clinical Neuropsychology

• • •

Neuropsychology Coursework

– (neuroanatomy, neuropsychopathology, neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation)

Neuropsychology placements

– (Neurosciences Unit, Shenton Park, State Head Injury Unit, Next Step, Princess Margaret Hospital, Fremantle Older Adult Mental Health Service, internal prac, interstate options)

Research project relevant to CN

What’s different: Complementary skills

• •

MPsych/PhD

– Includes a

PhD-level research thesis

relevant to neuropsychology on a topic – That is, specialist training in CN,

plus higher level research training

DPsych

– Includes coursework and placements for specialist

training in Clinical Psychology

– Research thesis is a one year project. If specialist endorsement in both CCN and CCP is a goal, then the research topic must be relevant to both specialist areas

College Endorsement

• MPsych/PhD is the only route currently in place to CCN endorsement • Dpsych (Clinical, Neuro Track) – CCP endorsement in place – All required coursework, thesis in place for CCN (double) endorsement – Will need approx 1 additional specialist neuro placement – Formal pathway (e.g., via 6 month grad cert) is planned

Selection

• Selection process similar to other psychology postgraduate programs • Up to 6 students in the MPsych/PhD

For further information

• Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists: –

http://www.psychology.org.au/community/ specialist/clinicalneuro/

• International Neuropsychological Society –

http://www.the-ins.org/

• National Academy of Neuropsychology –

http://www.nanonline.org

• Contact Program Coordinator –

[email protected]