Neuropsychological Testing Services

Neuropsychological testing is a way of examining brain function and cognitive abilities. Neuropsychological tests are an important part of an overall evaluation because they provide an objective measure of an individual's strengths and weaknesses. Neuropsychological assessment provides a systematic evaluation of cognitive abilities such as intelligence, memory, language, attention, problem-solving ability, visual-motor skills, sensorimotor abilities, personality/emotional functioning, and academic skills.

A typical evaluation involves administration of neuropsychological and psychological tests, record review, and an interview with the patient, including a spouse or other family member when available. Neuropsychological tests usually involve paper-and-pencil or computer based measures. An evaluation takes from as few as one to two hours to as many as eight hours depending on the referral question. Evaluations are flexible and tailored to a specific referral question. The results of the evaluation are often the first step in developing an effective treatment or rehabilitation plan.

Services at the UConn Health Neuropsychology Service are provided for adults.

How to Use Our Services

Referrals for neuropsychological evaluations may be requested by physicians or by other health care professionals. Referrals are accepted from inpatient and from outpatient clinics, and also from general practitioners and specialists.

Indications for Neuropsychological Consultation

Neuropsychological consultation has a major role in diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, educational, and vocational planning. It is especially valuable as an objective measure of pre- and post-treatment assessment. Examples of patients who may benefit include adults with the following conditions or needs:

Acquired brain injury (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, central nervous system infection, toxic encephalopathy, brain tumor, or hypoxia
Degenerative disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis)
Medical conditions affecting central nervous system function (e.g., cardiovascular, renal, liver, respiratory disorders, and Lyme disease)
Psychiatric conditions with a high index of risk for neurologic involvement (e.g., chronic alcoholism, schizophrenia)
Memory, attention, or language problems that impair functioning
Identification and description of cognitive abilities in preparation for neurosurgery, including post-surgical testing

Common Neuropsychological Referral Questions

To determine the presence, nature, and severity of cognitive dysfunction related to illness or brain injury and track symptom progression over time
To provide information that can guide planning for rehabilitation, employment, and independent living
To aid in differential diagnosis of complex patient presentations suspected of having neuropsychiatric components
To examine cognitive functioning for the purposes of independent medical examinations
To identify psychological factors such as depression that either falsely appear as disorders of brain function or contribute to cognitive dysfunction
To provide diagnostic information needed prior to neurosurgical procedures
To provide treatment recommendations for cognitive disorders and psychological adjustment

Costs to the Patient

Evaluation Results and Feedback

Written and verbal feedback is tailored to the needs of the patient and the referral source. Typically, a comprehensive report summarizing the findings, including recommendations for potential treatments and the likely consequences of the patient's difficulties in daily functioning is prepared for the referring physician. A feedback session with the patient and family also is often provided.

Specialty Clinics

Adult Outpatient Clinic

Huntington's Disease Program

The mission of the Huntington's Disease (HD) Program of UConn Health is to provide care and treatment to HD patients and their families. Persons eligible include Connecticut residents who have, or are at risk for, Huntington's disease. An initial evaluation consists of a visit with the neuropsychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, social worker and neuropsychologist. A visit with a genetic counselor can be arranged for individuals interested in pre-symptomatic testing. For more information, please contact the Huntington's Disease Clinic at 860-679-6700.

Inpatient Clinic

Education

Neuropsychology Testing Practicum

The Neuropsychology Service sponsors interns from accredited graduate clinical psychology training programs in Connecticut to participate in specialized training in neuropsychological testing. Training is tailored to the individual needs of the graduate student. However, training generally involves didactics on neuropsychological and psychiatric disorders, as well as training in neuropsychological test administration and scoring, test interpretation, report writing, and clinical skills needed to effectively work with patients referred to the Neuropsychology Service.

Medical School Education

Faculty from the Neuropsychology Service participate in medical school education by providing lectures and seminars to medical students and psychiatry residents. Trainees at all levels also have the opportunity to rotate through the clinic to observe neuropsychological testing and receive education regarding the role of neuropsychological assessment in patient diagnosis and treatment planning.

Psychology Predoctoral Internship

Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Neuropsychology Service offers a two-year fellowship designed to prepare fellows for careers as scientist-practitioners and subsequent board certification (ABPP) in neuropsychology. Training is provided in adult neuropsychological assessment with a diverse clinical population (e.g., head injury, dementia, stroke, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, psychiatric disorders). The majority of patients are seen on an outpatient basis, although there are occasional opportunities to conduct inpatient consultations. Didactic and research opportunities are also provided.

Research

The Neuropsychological Service is actively collaborating with the Alcohol Research Center, in the studies of neurobehavioral risk factors predisposing substance abuse and with the Huntington's Disease Program and the Departments of Neurology, Medicine, and Geriatrics in a National Institutes of Health-funded longitudinal study of white matter disease in the elderly.