Applied Neuropsychology Flashcards
How is neuropsychology defined?
The study of the brain and how changes to it affect emotions, behavior, and cognition.
What roles do neuropsychologists play?
- Support individuals with neurological diagnoses or symptoms to manage and adjust to changes.
- Provide guidance to family and other close contacts.
- Work with carers supporting individuals emotionally and practically.
What types of people do neuropsychologists work with?
- Acquired brain injury cases: Trauma, stroke, tumours, or post-surgical injuries.
- Degenerative neurological conditions: Dementia or neurodegenerative diseases.
What are common sources of distress in neurological conditions?
- Biological/physical changes.
- Social changes.
- Psychological changes.
What psychosocial and behavioural difficulties are common after acquired brain injuries?
- Self-isolation.
- Emotional lability.
- Apathy.
- Aggressive behavior.
- Reduced empathy and social awareness.
- Suicide attempts and self-harm.
- “Rule-breaking.”
What psychological difficulties are common in neurodegenerative conditions?
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Apathy.
- Hallucinations.
- Disorientation.
- Aggression.
- Perseveration.
- Paranoid thinking or delusions.
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviours.
What biological changes might occur with neurological conditions?
- Damage to emotion centres (limbic system, amygdala).
- Hormone imbalances (hypothalamus, pituitary gland).
- Pain from sensory disruption.
- Seizures, reduced mobility, and fatigue.
What are possible social changes?
- Loss of roles and responsibilities.
- Financial strain.
- Difficulty in social interactions, leading to avoidance.
- Misunderstanding or lack of support from others.
What psychological changes might occur?
- Shock and denial (“Why me?”).
- Frustration and anger.
- Low mood (loss of abilities, self-image, or future plans).
- Anxiety (about changes in thinking skills and relationships).
- Low motivation (“Nothing will change”).
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and how does it impact individuals?
- A progressive neurological condition with no current cure.
- Affects mobility, cognition, and emotions over time.
- Anxiety is high in the first 6 months post-diagnosis, followed by increasing depression after the first year (Manicalco et al., 2019).
What cognitive difficulties are associated with typical aging?
- Memory: Worsened ability to memorize and retrieve information.
- Attention: Difficulty concentrating and multitasking.
- Speed of processing: Slower task completion and understanding.
- Executive function: Struggles with problem-solving, planning, and adapting to changes.
What are common feelings of shame and stigma in cognitive aging?
- People feel shame and avoid embarrassing situations.
- 24% of dementia patients fear stigma, and 40% feel excluded from society (Aldridge et al., 2017).
What is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and what are its contributing factors?
- A condition affecting how the brain sends and receives information to the body.
- Contributing factors:
- Trauma.
- Emotional regulation difficulties.
- Psychological distress manifesting as physical symptoms.
- Stressful life events.
- Low mood or anxiety.
What is Huntington’s Disease?
- A rare, inherited brain disorder causing nerve cells to die and resulting in gradual functional loss.
- Symptoms:
- Motor: Chorea, rigidity, bradykinesia (onset 30–50 years old).
- Cognitive: Memory, orientation, processing speed, and executive function issues.
What are the genetic implications of HD?
- Dominant gene inherited from an affected parent.
- Children have a 50% chance of inheriting the gene.
