Neuropsychological assessment in public psychiatric hospitals: the changing state of the practice-1979 to 1989.
A ten-year follow-up survey of clinicians in publicly funded adult psychiatric hospitals throughout the United States was conducted to assess changes and trends in the practice of clinical neuropsychology. An 85% response rate was achieved. The survey produced data on the type and number of neuropsychological testing instruments in use, the type of training received by clinicians performing neuropsychological assessments, the psychiatric patient load and proportion of referrals which involve neuropsychological questions, the proportion of institutions employing psychologists with primarily neuropsychological duties, and the perceived efficacy of neuropsychological assessment techniques for discriminating functional from organic disorders. The findings indicate an increase in the level and variety of training as well as in the number of neuropsychological specialists in the field. However, levels of staffing appear to remain below service needs. Additional findings indicate the continued popularity of a small number of neuropsychological test batteries, a marked increase in the variety of testing instruments in use, and a general sense of trust in the efficacy of neuropsychological assessment techniques. The implications of these findings for the future of applied human neuropsychology are discussed.
University of Alaska at Anchorage, USA.
D J
DJ
Slick
P L
PL
Craig