Neuropsychological diagnostics is a term for testing the performance of the brain in a standardized and normalized way (paper and pen, computer-assisted tests). Neuropsychological examinations test the following aspects of cerebral performance:
In clinical, psychological behavior diagnostics, we utilize standardized and normalized questionnaires in order to receive information about, e.g.,
Neuropsychological diagnostics as well as clinical, psychological behavior diagnostics are used to determine the state of cognitive performance and also to give a second opinion in case of a previously diagnosed disorder given the following symptoms/disorders:
Neuropsychological examinations objectify and quantify presumed or known damage- or disease-related disorders of cerebral performance, emotional processing and behavioral regulation and control.
Findings complement and support neurological and psychiatric and differential diagnostics. Particularly, we estimate whether and to what extent the behavior is reflected by the structural and functional imaging (MRI) as well as electrophysiological diagnostics. Likewise, neuropsychology can also have an impact on further neurological and psychiatric diagnostics.
The findings are regarded as a temporary snapshot of the initial situation. They also make an evaluation of the processing, results and treatment quality possible within the temporal course of disorders/diseases and medication or surgical treatment.
Psychological and neuropsychological diagnostics should be carried out in case of/in order to
At the beginning of psychological and neuropsychological diagnostics, a first consultation takes place, if necessary, e.g., with relatives. Questionnaires serve to examine the behavior and, given a previously diagnosed disorder/disease, to assess treatment effects. Experienced testers do tests lasting between 30 minutes and 3 hours. Conclusively, we talk about your needs, further neuropsychological or other diagnostics and treatment options as well.
Neuropsychology focuses on the direct behavior and, thus, reflects the symptoms at the end of the range, compared to most of the neurological examinations. Neuropsychological deficits and changes in behavior are the first clue to a beginning disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). They are very sensitive to the dynamics of the disease/disorder and the therapeutic success, and they have a direct impact on daily life.
Neuropsychology is non-invasive, replicable, sensitive, and it objectifies and quantifies deficits (objective, metric). It correlates well with neurological imaging and functional diagnostics, is valid in terms of differential diagnostics, gives cues to potentially required further diagnostics and diagnostics in the temporal course of a disease, and it is also valid in daily life.
Contraindications, i.e., reasons against neuropsychological diagnostics:
