Contemporary Approaches to Neuropsychological Assessment

Book excerpt: This volume reflects, in part, an update of Clinical Application of Neuropsycho logical Test Batteries, edited by Theresa Incagnoli, Gerald Goldstein, and Charles Golden some 10 years ago. While the initial concept of the present editors involved doing a straightforward update of each chapter, it soon became apparent that the field of clinical neuropsychology had changed so dramatically and rapidly that substantial changes in the outline had to be made. It was our view that sufficient interest remained in the standard comprehen sive neuropsychological test batteries to make an update worthwhile. We asked four senior people to take on this assignment, James Moses, Jr. , andAmold Purisch in the case of the Luria-Nebraska Battery, and James Reed and Homer Reed for the Halstead-Reitan Battery. These individuals all have long-term associations with these procedures and can be viewed as pioneers in their development. How ever, it also seemed to us that there was an increasing interest in the psychometric aspects of the standard procedures and in assessment issues related to the relative merits of using standard or individualized assessment strategies. Thus, we have chapters by Elbert Russell and Gerald Goldstein that provide discussions of these current methodological and clinical issues. During the past 10 years, the cognitive revolution has made a strong impact on neuropsychology. The interest of cognitive psychologists in brain function has increased dramatically, and we now have an active field of cognitive neuropsy chology, something that was only beginning 10 years ago.