Ch 15: Health, neuropsychology and forensic

Question 1

What is training for clinical psychology like?

Answer 1

• generalist base training for all subspecialties of clinical psychology

Question 2

What do all clinical psychology professions rely on?

Answer 2

• knowledge of normal functioning
• research methods
• professional issues
• assessment
• diagnosis
• case formulation
• intervention
• working collaboratively with other health professionals

Question 3

What is clinical health psychology?

Answer 3

• apply their knowledge and training in clinical psychology toward health promotion, treatment of disease, and rehabilitation
• based on health being affected by individual behaviours and habits and influenced by psychosocial stress

Question 4

Where are clinical health psychologists employed?

Answer 4

• some jurisdictions require a person to have specialized knowledge to practice
• employed in hospital or community health settings
• some private practice and some government/policy

Question 5

How does the WHO classify disability?

Answer 5

• based on biopsychosocial model as opposed to purely medical or social models

Question 6

What is functioning?

Answer 6

• bodily functions
• activities
• participation

Question 7

What is disability?

Answer 7

• impairment activity limitation

- participation restriction

Question 8

How many people in Canada have disabilities?

Answer 8

• 14% of Canadians
• 3.8 million Canadians 15 and up
• disability rate increases with age (43% of adults over 75 report a disability)

Question 9

What is the most common type of disability in Canada?

Answer 9

• related to pain (chronic)
• followed by flexibility and mobility
• 22% of canadians 18 years and older report experiencing chronic pain

Question 10

What is acute pain?

Answer 10

• short term and useful signal

- due to injury and medical intervention

Question 11

What is chronic pain?

Answer 11

• long term (>6 months)

- linked to sleep disturbance and psychological effects

Question 12

What was and is believed about pain in infants?

Answer 12

• used to believe that infants and young children did not feel pain
• we now know they do feel pain

Question 13

What are the ABCs of infant pain management?

Answer 13

• assess anxiety
• belly breath
• calm close cuddle
• distract your baby

Question 14

What are some issues with insomnia?

Answer 14

• chronic insomnia is perpetuated by problematic behaviours and beliefs
• sleep disorders are often overlooked by psychologists
• pharmacological interventions can lead to poor quality of sleep, possible addiction and rebound insomnia on withdrawal of medication

Question 15

What are the treatments for insomnia?

Answer 15

• pharmacological and psychological interventions produce comparable short-term effects, but psychological leads to better long-term outcomes
• CBT includes educational strategies, behavioural strategies and cognitive interventions

Question 16

What do clinical neuropsychologists do?

Answer 16

• apply knowledge of brain-behaviour relationship to the assessment and remediation of neurological injury or illness

Question 17

What types of problems do clinical neuropsychologists treat?

Answer 17

• genetic problems
• birth-related injuries
• head injuries
• brain tumors
• infections

Question 18

What are the knowledge requirements of a neuropsychologist?

Answer 18

• neuroanatomy, physiology, pharmacology
• human neuropsychology and neuropathology
• neuropsychological assessment
• clinical and neuropsychological intervention techniques
• children and adolescents: developmental psychology

Question 19

What schools offer accredited doctoral level clinical neuropsychological training?

Answer 19

• UVic and York

Question 20

What are the activities of clinical neuropsychologists?

Answer 20

• assessment of memory, abstract reasoning, problem solving, emotional consequences, brain dysfunction and capacity (screening, diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring)
• treatment of those with brain injury, stroke or dementia (psychoeducation and cognitive rehabilitation)

Question 21

What do forensic psychologists do?

Answer 21

• apply their training and knowledge in the legal and criminal justice systems and provide services to many stakeholders
• engage in prevention, assessment, treatment and research activities

Question 22

Where are forensic psychologists employed?

Answer 22

• hospitals, private practice, court clinics, penitentiaries, jails, correctional centres etc.

Question 23

What training do forensic psychologists have?

Answer 23

• PhD in clinical psychology and field training in forensic psychology
• Carleton, Dalhousie, Quebec a Trois Rivieres and Simon Fraser

Question 24

What assessment do forensic psychologists do?

Answer 24

• of witnesses, victims, the accused and offenders

- of competence, credibility, risk of violence

Question 25

Why do forensic psychologists do treatment?

Answer 25

• to address mental health issues

- to address criminal behaviour