PSYCHOLOGY 712R: NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ADULT Winter 2009 Section 001 Wednesday 3:00-5:30 pm 1 Instructor: Michael J. Larson, Ph.D. Office: 244 TLRB Email: michael_larson@byu.edu Phone: (801) 422-6125 Required Texts: 1. Lezak, M. D., Howieson, D. B., & Loring, D. W. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment (4 th Ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2. Strauss, E., Sherman, E. M. S., & Spreen, O. (2006). A compendium of neuropsychological tests: Administration, norms, and commentary (4 th Ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 3. Snyder, P.J., Nussbaum, P., & Robins, D. (2005). Clinical Neuropsychology: A Pocket Handbook for Assessment. (2 nd Ed.). American Psychological Association. Suggested Texts: 1. Blumenfeld, H. (2001). Neuroanatomy Through Clinical Cases. Sinauer Associates, Inc. 2. Bigler, E. D. & Clement, P. F. (1997). Diagnostic Clinical Neuropsychology (3 rd Ed.). Austin, TX: University of Texas Press (now out of print). Course Objectives: 1. Help students become informed regarding adult neuropsychological assessment. 2. Provide students the foundation of core skills needed to administer, score, interpret, and write neuropsychological assessments and evaluations. 3. Assist interested students to prepare themselves for internship by furnishing them with a solid introduction to the theory and practice of neuropsychological testing. Learning Outcomes: Each program at BYU has developed a set of expected student learning outcomes. These will help you understand the objectives of the curriculum in the program, including this class. To learn the expected student outcomes go to <http://learningoutcomes.byu.edu> and click on the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences and then psychology. We welcome feedback on the expected student learning outcomes. Comments or suggestions you have can be sent to <FHSS@byu.edu>. BYU Policies: Academic Dishonesty: All students sign the honor code which obligates them to not engage in plagiarism or cheating; however, clear instances of cheating on exams or plagiarism on papers will be noticed and due action taken. See http://www.byu.edu/honorcode for specific examples of intentional plagiarism, inadvertent plagiarism, and fabrication and falsification. Discrimination: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities, and student-to-student sexual harassment. BYU s policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the University but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 367-5689 (24-hours) or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847. Students with Disabilities: BYU is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office at 422-2767. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities.
Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the SSD office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895, D- 282 ASB. Course Requirements: Attendance: Attendance is required as we will deal with issues and examples not covered in the text. It is also important that you are present to correctly learn the administration, scoring, and interpretation of a number of neuropsychological tests. Class Preparation: It is my expectation that you will read the material, as listed in the course schedule, prior to class. This is so you might better understand topics, more efficiently learn and retain material, and so we might have more productive discussions. It is my hope this course will provide you with a useful academic and practical foundation for the neuropsychological assessments you will conduct as graduate students, interns, postdocs, and in your professional lives. If you must miss class, please inform Dr. Larson in advance and obtain notes from your classmates. It is my expectation that you will complete your assessment during the semester prior to the deadline. Readings will include information from the books noted above, along with selected journal articles and book chapters that I will provide as supplementary material. Exams: There will be a midterm (02/25/09) and final examination (04/15/09) in this course which will be administered in class and must be as indicated in the course schedule. Exams will cover readings, class discussion, assignments, and other areas as determined by the instructor. Exam format will be discussed prior to each test and may include multiple choice, matching, short answer, essay, and case studies. Part of the final exam will be writing the results and summary/interpretations sections of a neuropsychological report from the data on a summary sheet. There will be no test make-ups except under extreme conditions which require approval from Dr. Larson. Cheating of any kind will result in a lowered grade and other University sanctions. I encourage you to work together on assignments and readings and ask you to contact me if need additional help. My door is open to discuss testing concerns both before and after exams. The midterm is worth 125 points; the final is worth 150 points. Videotape of Test Administration (Due: 02/18/09): You will be provided with a list of neuropsychological tests that you are to administer to another class member (see below). You should administer these tests in the Comprehensive Clinic and tape your administration. Your grade for this assignment will be based on the following: Your accuracy of administration The accuracy of your recorded test responses and behavioral observations (including the order you decided to administer the tests) Your scoring of each test A data summary sheet you will create with raw scores and normed scores (using the appropriate choice of norms) You have many responsibilities for this assignment. First, you need to know how to administer all of the tests. Second, you must decide what order to administer the tests (think about delays in administration, potential contamination by other tests, etc). Next, you must give the tests according to standardized instructions while establishing and maintaining rapport with the patient (i.e., not just reading the directions and ignoring your patient). Finally, you must accurately score the data, use appropriate norms, and complete a neuropsychological summary sheet. 2
3 Tests for Videotape Auditory Consonant Trigrams Booklet Category Test Boston Naming Test PASAT CVLT-II Wisconsin Card Sorting Test COWAT & Category Fluency Hand Sequences, Triple Loops, Ms & Ns WMS-III Digit and Spatial Span Benton Judgment of Line Orientation Grip Strength Tests of Praxis Grooved Pegboard Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure Sensory Perceptual Exam (visual fields, hearing, tactile) Trail Making Test Parts A and B TOMM or Victoria Symptom Validity Test (either one) Finger Tapping WMS-III Logical Memory and Visual Reproductions Stroop Contrasting Motor Programs & Go-No Go Benton Facial Recognition Test (Short Form) Line Bisection Clock Drawing I will provide a packet of the forms, including a test summary sheet, for the test administration. This is an extensive battery of tests, but not unlike a day of testing for some flexible-battery neuropsychologists. Given scheduling difficulties, it is OK to complete the videotaping in more than one session. Please have all of the material on one tape or DVD, though. I anticipate the administration of these tests will take you between 5 and 7 hours. I highly recommend you get together and practice administering the tests several times before you do it for the videotape. The testing videotape, data summary sheet, and test materials are due by the beginning of class on 02/18/09. You may, however, turn them in earlier than that if you desire. The tape assignment is worth 75 points. Self-Critique of Videotaped Test Administration (Due: 3/11/09): Your testing video will be returned to you by 02/25/09. You are to watch your tape and provide a self-analysis/critique that should encompass the technical aspects of administration (i.e., standardized administration) as well as stylistic issues (e.g., how was your eye contact with the participant? Were you too focused on reading the directions? Were there places you went too fast or too slow? Etc.). Your self-critique should be no longer than two double-spaced pages. The purpose of this portion of the assignment is so you can watch yourself administer tests and learn your tendencies. I found this type of thing very helpful throughout my training, so please watch your tapes in the spirit of learning, rather than just as part of the assignment. The self-critique is worth 25 points. Neuropsychological Practicum (Due: 04/15/09): Following your videotaped practice administration, each student must complete one full neuropsychological evaluation (worth 75 points). You can choose to assess a client at the clinic (assuming it is a neuropsych case and you have supervisor permission), but given the time constraints of this semester, you are free to use a volunteer for this evaluation. I would prefer you didn t test another student if possible. All parties involved should be aware of the possible delay in receiving feedback following testing. If an actual case with a neuropsychological question is used, this will necessitate co-signing by your practicum supervisor and myself. The evaluation must include a brief interview, test administration, scoring, interpretation, and full report write-up. I will work with you on the report. The interpretations and write-up for the report will constitute the majority of your grade for this project. The Neuropsychological Practicum assignment is worth 75 points. Neuropathology Paper (Due: 3/25/09): Each student is to select a neuropathological disorder that is of particular interest to you (we will discuss possible choices in class). You are to summarize the principal symptoms of the disorder, the expected neuropsychological findings, differential diagnoses, and
confounds. The paper should be no more than five pages long (APA format). Your paper is worth 25 points. 4 Norms Book (Due: 04/08/09): You will assemble the important norms, descriptors, administration instructions, and information for the measures most commonly used in a neuropsychological evaluation. This is a help which will assist you in more effectively using your time and is to be a resource for your current and future assessments in this course, on internship, postdoc, and in your professional career. The norms book is worth 25 points. Grading Policy: Your grade will be calculated on the number of points you earn from examinations, assignments, and your assessment divided by the total number of points possible. A 'B' is a good grade, while an 'A' represents an outstanding level of accomplishment even in comparison with peers who are often excellent students. Conversely, we will award grades of C, D, UW, or E only after individual consideration concerning whether the student s performance in the course merits such a grade. Points Possible %age of Grade Exams 275 55% Midterm (Date: 2/25/09 ) 125 Final Exam (Date: 4/15/09 ) 150 Videotape of Test Administration Due Date: 02/18/09 Self-Critique of Videotape Due Date: 03/11/09 Neuropathology Paper Due Date: 03/25/09 Norms Book Due Date: 04/08/09 Neuropsychological Evaluation (including report) Due Date: 04/15/09 75 15% 75 15% TOTAL 500 100% Disclaimer: The instructor reserves the right to change schedule and syllabus at any time.
Course Overview Date Topic Readings Introduction and Course Overview 01/07 Bedside Neuropsychology and the Neurological Exam 01/14 01/21 01/28 02/04 Psychometry, Norms, and Medical Charts Test Administration (for videotape assignment) Test Administration (for videotape) Continued Diagnostic Interview, Test Selection, & Behav. Obs. Pre-morbid Intelligence, Orientation, Attention/Concentration Sensory-motor functioning (begin) Sensory-motor functioning (continued) Visual-spatial perception & Stimulus recognition 02/11 Memory and Learning 02/18 02/25 VIDEOTAPE OF ADMINISTRATION DUE Language, Fluency, & Calculation Emotional Communication VIDEOTAPES RETURNED Mid-Term Exam Symptom validity and effort measurement 03/04 Executive Functioning (incl. praxis) 03/11 03/18 03/25 SELF-CRITIQUE OF VIDEO DUE Screening Batteries (RBANS; DRS-2; etc.) Dementia Discussion Test and Battery Interpretation Emotional Functioning & Depression vs. Dementia NEUROPATHOLOGY PAPERS DUE Report Writing & Feedback Stroke and TBI Discussion 04/01 Fixed Batteries (Halstead-Reitan Battery) Subcortical & Neuro-oncology Discussion NORMS BOOK DUE Professional Issues in Neuropsychology 04/08 WAIS-III Neuropsychological Issues Epilepsy and Neurotoxicology Discussion Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 2 & 5 S&S pgs. 3-29, 44-53 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapter 1 Begin Lezak Chapter 5 S&S pgs. 55-83 Finish Lezak Chapter 5 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapter 24 S&S pgs. 963-965, 1012-1013 Lezak pgs. 337-338, 350-374 Lezak pgs. 375-413, 670-681 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapter 23 S&S pgs. 972-989, 997-1004 S&S pgs. 678-686, 701-712 Lezak pgs. 414-435, 444-448, 450-465 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapter 19 Lezak Chapter 13 & pgs. 61-63 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapter 18 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapter 6 S&S pgs. 401-407 Lezak pgs.611-637 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 22 & 25 Lezak pgs. 150-153 S&S pgs 144-157, 237-257 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 8 & 10 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 9 & 28 Lezak pgs. 133-156, 738-754 S&S pgs 86-95 Lezak pgs. 106 and 114 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 12 & 14 Lezak pgs. 670-681 Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 11 & 17 NAN Statement article Lezak R.I.P. IQ article Snyder & Nussbaum Chapters 13 & 15 5 04/15 EVALUATION REPORT DUE Final Exam (this is technically a reading day, so we can adjust if needed)