69309 CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
98	69309 	S2  	D 	CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY  	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

69209

RATIONALE:

Clinical  neuropsychology is the application  of  knowledge  regarding
brain-behaviour relationships to the evaluation and treatment of those
individuals  with neuropathology and requires extensive  knowledge  of
both  behavioural  principles  and  neuroanatomy  in  determining  how
disorders of the brain are reflected in human behaviour. This unit  is
intended to provide a basic understanding of the application of brain-
behaviour relationships as they are applied in clinical settings.  The
area of clinical psychopharmacology is also reviewed in this unit.

SYNOPSIS:

This   unit   will   focus  upon  the  central  issues   in   clinical
neuropsychology   particularly   with   regard   to   the   diagnosis,
psychological   assessment,   and   treatment   of   a   variety    of
neuropathologies. These will include mild and severe  traumatic  brain
injury,  Parkinson's  disease,  Alzheimer's  disease,  cerebrovascular
accidents, multiple sclerosis, neurotoxin exposure, HIV infection, and
epilepsy.  The  unit  will conclude with a review  of  the  role  that
clinical  neuropsychology plays in other related disciplines  such  as
clinical  psychology, health psychology, and forensic psychology.  The
major  classes of medication used to treat psyco- and neuro-psychology
are also reviewed.

Modern  neuroimaging  techniques  will  be  reviewed  with  particular
reference to the uses and limitations of these technologies. The  unit
content  relies heavily upon the neuroanatomy/brain-behaviour material
covered   in  unit  69209  Physiological  Psychology  and  a   minimum
examiner's  grade of B for those sections of that unit  are  essential
for entry to this unit.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. discuss and explain the basic conceptual framework and
   underlying assumptions of neuropsychology and compare the
   different approaches to the study of neuropsychology;
   
2. describe the basic anatomy of the cerebral cortext and
   subcortical structure, the blood supply to the brain, and
   neurological diagnostic tools;
   
3. describe the behavioural geography of the brain, the way in
   which higher cognitive functions may be impaired by cerebral
   dysfunction and differences in symptomatology according to
   cerebral localisation;
   
4. describe the various common types of neuropathological
   disorder and the effects of these on behaviour;
   
5. discuss the various applications of neuropsychological
   knowledge for clinical and research purposes;
   
6. apply appropriately the various facets of relevant knowledge
   to real life situations and problems.
   
7. discuss major classes of psychpharmacological agents and their
   effects upon neurological and psychological disorders.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Background   &  conceptual  issues;  the  assessment   of             5.00
behaviour; the research- clinical interface.

Basic  brain  organisation:  Hemispheric  specialisation:             15.00
Motor and sensory systems

Higher   cognitive  functions  and  brain   localisation:             15.00
Language,  Non-verbal  abilities, attention  and  memory,
executive functions, emotions.

Clinical cases: common types of neuropathology and  their             35.00
behavioural   sequelae:   CVA,   Neoplasm,   Degenerative
disorders,    Alcoholism,    Head    Injury,    Epilepsy,
Neuropsychiatry.

Clinical psycopharmacology.                                           30.00

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Smith, P.F. & Darlington, C.L. 1996, (Clinical Psychopharmacology: A
Primer), Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, New Jersey.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Chusid, J.F. 1976, Correlative Neuroanatomy and Functional
Neurology, Lange Medical, Los Altos.

Hecaen, H. & Albert, M.L. 1978, Human Neuropsychology, Wiley, New
York.

Lezak, M.D. 1983, Neuropsychological Assessment, 2nd edn, Oxford
University Press, New York.

Meir, M.J., Benton, A.L. & Diller, L. (eds.) 1987, Neuropsychological
Rehabilitation, L Guilford Press, New York.

Netter, F. 1972, The CIBA Collection of Medical Illustrations, Vol
1, New York: CIBA.

Spreen, O. & Strauss, E. 1991, A Compendium of Neuropsychological
Tests, Oxford University Press, New York.

Walsh, K.W. 1986, Neuropsychology: A Clinical Approach, 2nd edn,
Churchill Livingstone, London.

Relevant Journals - eg Cortex, Neuropsychologia, Journal of
Experimental and Clinical Neuropsychology.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	26
Tutorials/Workshops                           	16
Private Study                                 	120
Examinations                                  	3

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              T.B.A.    ASSIGNMENT 1 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 1         10.00     N   N
2   S              T.B.A.    ASSIGNMENT 2 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 2         10.00     N   N
3   S              T.B.A.    ASSIGNMENT 1 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 3         10.00     N   N
4   S              T.B.A.    NEUROPATHOLOGY                            30.00     N   N
5   S              T.B.A.    NEUROPSYCHOLOGY                           40.00     N   N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    A satisfactory standard must be achieved on each component of the
     assessment to obtain passing grade.
2    In accordance with University policy and Guidelines,
2.1  an  Examiner  may  grant  an extension of  the  due  date  of  an
     assignment in extenuating circumstances;
2.2  no  assignments  will be accepted for assessment  purposes  after
     assignments  or  model  solutions have been  released  except  in
     extenuating circumstances;
2.3  assignments  submitted after the due date without any extenuating
     circumstances  will  attract a penalty of  at  most  20%  of  the
     assignment mark for each working day late;
2.4  students who submit an assignment after the due date and wish  to
     claim   extenuating   circumstances,  must  provide   documentary
     evidence with the assignment explaining the circumstances;
2.5  the   unit  examiner  shall  consider  a  claim  for  extenuating
     circumstances and decide on the outcome;
2.6  the  decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute that  may
     arise in the implementation of these guidelines.