Dr Sara Fratti MPsych(ClinNeuro), PhD, MAPS, FCCN
Dr Sara Fratti MPsych(ClinNeuro), PhD, MAPS, FCCN
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Diagnostic, Medico-Legal & Capacity Assessments
What is neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a branch of clinical psychology that studies how the brain and nervous system affect how we function on a daily basis. According to the formal definition by the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), a clinical neuropsychologist is a professional within the field of psychology with special expertise in the applied science of brain-behaviour relationships.
Clinical neuropsychologists are highly specialised in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients across the lifespan with neurological, medical, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, as well as other cognitive and learning disorders.
Psychological, neurological, cognitive, behavioural, and physiological principles, as well as techniques and tests, are used to evaluate patients’ cognitive, behavioural, and emotional strengths and weaknesses and their relationship to central nervous system functioning.
Why consider a neuropsychological assessment?
When someone experiences significant changes in their memory and thinking, a comprehensive evaluation of their thinking (cognitive) skills can provide the foundation for an accurate diagnosis and useful recommendations. Situations where an illness or injury has the potential to adversely impact on cognitive functioning are those where neuropsychological assessment is indicated.
A neuropsychological assessment is mostly useful:
- when a diagnosis is unclear
- to inform a treatment plan
- to determine eligibility for support services or funding (e.g., Disability Support Pension or NDIS funding)
- to assess if your thinking skills are adequate to live alone, drive, manage your own medical, legal or financial affairs
- to obtain a baseline of your current strengths and weaknesses
- as a marker to detect the progress of cerebral dysfunction or recovery in the longer term.
Common medical conditions affecting brain functions:
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI):
An ABI is an injury to the brain, which is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. An ABI is an injury to the brain that has occurred after birth. Examples include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Stroke, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), aneurysm, intracranial surgery
- Infectious disease, intracranial tumors, metabolic disorders
- Hypoxic events (lack of oxygen to the brain)
- Toxic exposure such as poisonous chemicals and gases (e.g., carbon monoxide)
- Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol)
Neurodegenerative disorders:
A neurodegenerative condition involves the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons. Common neurodegenerative disorders include:
- the dementias (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, fronto-temporal dementia, Lewy-Body dementia)
- Parkinson's disease
- Huntigton's disease
Other common conditions known to affect cognitive functioning:
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Developmental learning difficulties
- Intellectual Disability (ID)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Epilepsy
- Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)