Neuropsychological outcomes research: a necessity and an opportunity.
Clinical neuropsychology is subject to the same pressures and demands as other aspects of health care. Increasingly, this means being able to document the usefulness of services and interventions. This special issue of Applied Neuropsychology on neuropsychological outcomes research provides preliminary data on the effectiveness of neuropsychological services in various clinical and medicolegal settings. To date, clinical neuropsychology has devoted little time and energy to such outcomes research. It is hoped that this special issue will challenge neuropsychologists to conduct additional outcomes research that in turn will stimulate the development of increasingly better and more cost-effective services. Such outcomes research is one mark of a maturing and responsible clinical profession.
Vanderploeg
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RD
Psychology Service, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, and Department of Neurology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA. vanderploeg@tampa.va.gov