The third edition of Neuropsychological Assessment of Neuropsychiatric and Neuromedical Disorders includes numerous revisions and updates that easily solidifies this volume as an essential reference for clinical neuropsychologists. The editors, Grant and Adams, who are outstanding and established experts in neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry, are joined by nationally recognized contributors to the earlier editions and several new authors. Together they provide breadth of information in a volume that is organized into three major sections: I, Methods of Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment; II, Neuropsychiatric Disorders; and III, Psychosocial Consequences of Neuropsychological Impairment.
Section I includes seven chapters and addresses the most commonly cited approaches in neuropsychological assessment, that is, Halstead-Reitan, Analytical, Boston Process, Iowa-Benton, and adds a new chapter on computer-based cognitive testing. Each of these chapters provides a comprehensive background regarding these methods, including history, theoretical foundations, current practice, and up-to-date research. Of note, Chapter 6 addresses cognitive screening methods and includes a useful Table that summarizes the functions assessed, test properties, and test administration time associated with commonly used screening tools (i.e., MMSE, Blessed, Cognistat). This section concludes with a chapter on demographic influences and the use of demographically corrected norms.
Section II has 16 chapters that are the heart of this book and chockfull of useful information. The new edition includes chapters on multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and exposure to metals. Each chapter includes the requisite descriptions of the specific syndrome and its neuropsychological consequences. Those chapters repeating from the 2nd edition have all been updated with current research findings. Most provide additional clinically relevant information about co-morbidities, and challenges in classification and/or differential diagnosis. Although many chapters in this section discuss etiology and/or neuropathology, it would have been beneficial to systematically include information on the neuroanatomical underpinnings of these disorders across all of the disorder chapters, and where possible to include images. The benefit of this is clearly exemplified in Chapter 18, about the neurobehavioral correlates of alcoholism, which includes structural and functional neuroimaging plates that enable the reader to appreciate direct links between the brain and the behaviors associated with the disorder. Including this information in all of the disorder chapters would have been particularly beneficial for quick referencing, and would also have strengthened the training potential of this volume for graduate students. There is an extensive amount of information covered in these chapters, but what is most remarkable is the ease with which one can find information and a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the literature for each disorder.
The five chapters of Section III significantly expand on the content of the previous edition, which focused mainly on the neurocognitive aspects related to traumatic brain injury and quality of life. This edition significantly improves this section by including two chapters on brain injury and three chapters about functional everyday activities. Chapter 24, on traumatic brain injury, provides a comprehensive review of the outcome literature and touches on more current areas of interest with this population, notably genetic factors and aging with brain injury. This discussion is followed nicely by Chapter 25, about neuropsychiatric, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders that follow traumatic brain injury, is a new chapter with a welcome source of information to round out the more “typical” outcome findings, informing readers about the breadth of issues related to traumatic brain injury. The final three chapters focus on functional activities, and cover such timely topics as neuropsychological performance and the assessment of driving behavior (Chapter 27), and adherence to medical treatment (Chapter 28). One area not covered, but that would be consistent with these topics, is neuropsychological assessment in rehabilitation medicine. Given the focus on predicting functional everyday activities, it would seem that addition of such a chapter would have further acknowledged the growing number of neuropsychologists working in a rehabilitation setting, and who have to evaluate and treat individuals returning to everyday activities.
In the Preface, the authors acknowledge their goal of attempting to address the needs of the growing field of neuropsychology. This is not an easy task, as the field of neuropsychology continues to grow in size and content, easily exemplified in the remarkable number of neuropsychology textbooks. But, the third edition of Neuropsychological Assessment of Neuropsychiatric and Neuromedical Disorders is a welcome addition and is primed to be a leader in required reading for neuropsychologists at all levels. It is a well-written, scholarly summary of the current knowledge that, in my opinion, should be required reading for individuals training to be neuropsychologists and those already in clinical practice. It certainly will not gather dust on my bookshelf.
