Examination of neurological and neuropsychological features in psychopathology.

Abstract

Neuropsychology is commonly defined as the study of brain-behavior relationships. Although the field of neuropsychology was once based in the assessment of individuals with neurological disorders, the need and usefulness of neuropsychological assessment in the mental health field has gained widespread acceptance (Yozawitz, 1986). With the increased use of neuropsychological assessment with psychiatric populations came a growing appreciation of the cognitive sequelae, both subtle and profound, within psychiatric conditions (Heaton, Baade, & Johnson, 1978). Today, neuropsychological assessment is commonly used to inform diagnostic and treatment outcomes in neurological, psychiatric, and mixed populations (Hebben & Milberg, 2009).The sheer number of individuals affected by psychiatric conditions is striking, particularly when considered within the context of substantial disability associated with mental illness. Recent published figures from the World Health Organization ( 2001) estimate that 450 million individuals are affected by a mental or behavioral disorder; however, this figure is likely now far surpassed. Updated prevalence figures (Kessler et al., 2009) suggest that, although variable across countries, a diagnosis of any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) condition was present for 18.1%-36.1% of those assessed. The pervasiveness of cognitive impairment associated with psychiatric conditions underscores the need to understand and intervene with what is likely to be a major cause of disability in these conditions.