American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology special presentation: The American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN), 2000 update

This paper updates neuropsychologists on the process of obtaining board certification in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN), a specialty board operating under the auspices of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). At this time, the ABPP and ABCN have certified 406 clinical neuropsychologists, which makes it the largest board-certification organization in clinical neuropsychology. This article details the advantages of board certification through the ABCN and the four steps which must be passed in order to obtain board certification. These steps are: credential review, written examination, work sample, and oral examination.     

Computerized neuropsychological assessment devices: joint position paper of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology and the National Academy of Neuropsychology

This joint position paper of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology and the National Academy of Neuropsychology sets forth our position on appropriate standards and conventions for computerized neuropsychological assessment devices (CNADs). In this paper, we first define CNADs and distinguish them from examiner-administered neuropsychological instruments. We then set forth position statements on eight key issues relevant to the development and use of CNADs in the healthcare setting. These statements address (a) device marketing and performance claims made by developers of CNADs; (b) issues involved in appropriate end-users for administration and interpretation of CNADs; (c) technical (hardware/software/firmware) issues; (d) privacy, data security, identity verification, and testing environment; (e) psychometric development issues, especially reliability and validity; (f) cultural, experiential, and disability factors affecting examinee interaction with CNADs; (g) use of computerized testing and reporting services; and (h) the need for checks on response validity and effort in the CNAD environment. This paper is intended to provide guidance for test developers and users of CNADs that will promote accurate and appropriate use of computerized tests in a way that maximizes clinical utility and minimizes risks of misuse. The positions taken in this paper are put forth with an eye toward balancing the need to make validated CNADs accessible to otherwise underserved patients with the need to ensure that such tests are developed and utilized competently, appropriately, and with due concern for patient welfare and quality of care.     

Official Position of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN): Guidelines for Practicum Training in Clinical Neuropsychology

Practical experience is central to the education and training of neuropsychologists, beginning in graduate school and extending through postdoctoral fellowship. However, historically, little attention has been given to the structure and requirements of practicum training in clinical neuropsychology. A working group of senior-level neuropsychologists, as well as a current postdoctoral fellow, all from a diverse range of settings (The AACN Practicum Guidelines Workgroup), was formed to propose guidelines for practicum training in clinical neuropsychology. The Workgroup reviewed relevant literature and sought input from professional organizations involved in education and training in neuropsychology. The proposed guidelines provide a definition of practicum training in clinical neuropsychology, detail entry and exit criteria across competencies relevant to practicum training in clinical neuropsychology, and discuss the relationship between doctoral training programs and practicum training sites. The proposed guidelines also provide a methodology for competency-based evaluation of clinical neuropsychology practicum trainees and outline characteristics and features that are integral to an effective training environment. Although the guidelines discussed below may not be implemented in their entirety across all clinical neuropsychology practicum training sites, they are consistent with the latest developments in competency-based education.     

American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) practice guidelines for neuropsychological assessment and consultation

This document is the first set of practice guidelines to be formally reviewed and endorsed by the AACN Board of Directors and published in the official journal of AACN. They have been formulated with the assumption that guidelines and standards for neuropsychological assessment and consultation are essential to professional development. As such, they are intended to facilitate the continued systematic growth of the profession of clinical neuropsychology, and to help assure a high level of professional practice. These guidelines are offered to serve members of AACN, as well as the field of clinical neuropsychology as a whole.     

American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) Practice Guidelines for Neuropsychological Assessment and Consultation

This document is the first set of practice guidelines to be formally reviewed and endorsed by the AACN Board of Directors and published in the official journal of AACN. They have been formulated with the assumption that guidelines and standards for neuropsychological assessment and consultation are essential to professional development. As such, they are intended to facilitate the continued systematic growth of the profession of clinical neuropsychology, and to help assure a high level of professional practice. These guidelines are offered to serve members of AACN, as well as the field of clinical neuropsychology as a whole.     

2015 American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) student affairs committee survey of neuropsychology trainees

Objective: Surveys of practicing neuropsychologists have been conducted for years; however, there have been no comprehensive surveys of neuropsychology trainees, which may result in important issues being overlooked by the profession. This survey assessed trainees’ experiences in areas such as student debt, professional development, and training satisfaction.

Method: Survey items were written by a task force of the AACN Student Affairs Committee (SAC), and neuropsychology trainees were recruited via neuropsychology-focused listservs. In total, 344 trainees completed the survey (75% female) and included participants from every region of the US and Canada.

Results: Based on the survey questions, nearly half of all trainees (47%) indicated financial factors were the greatest limitation in their training. Student debt had a bimodal distribution; 32.7% had minimal debt, but 45% had debt >$100,000. In contrast, expected starting salaries were modest, but consistent with findings ($80–100,000). While almost all trainees intended to pursue board certification (97% through ABPP), many were ‘not at all’ or only ‘somewhat’ familiar with the process.

Conclusions: Results indicated additional critical concerns beyond those related to debt and lack of familiarity with board certification procedures. The results will inform SAC conference programming and the profession on the current ‘state of the trainees’ in neuropsychology.     

Official Position of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology on Ethical Complaints Made Against Clinical Neuropsychologists During Adversarial Proceedings

Individuals subjected to acceleration forces in motor vehicle accidents often exhibit the postconcussive syndrome and, upon examination, neuropsychological impairment. Brain injury and particular variables relating to nonimpact intracranial brain movement are reviewed. Brain injury in man can occur through exposure to acceleration forces without direct impact to the head or loss of consciousness. Hence, there are clear grounds for the neuropsychological study of victims of acceleration forces. Moreover, as with mild head injury, adequate regard for the variables of age, previous head injury, premorbid adaptive ability, socioeconomic status, motivation, and test sensitivity may assist in clarifying the specific problems in adaptation encountered by this clinical population. Clinical experience suggests that acceleration forces adversely affect attention (especially at older age levels), learning, and conceptual flexibility.     

AMERICAN BOARD OF CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY SPECIAL PRESENTATION The American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN), 2000 Update

This paper updates neuropsychologists on the process of obtaining board certification in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN), a specialty board operating under the auspices of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). At this time, the ABPP and ABCN have certified 406 clinical neuropsychologists, which makes it the largest board-certification organization in clinical neuropsychology. This article details the advantages of board certification through the ABCN and the four steps which must be passed in order to obtain board certification. These steps are: credential review, written examination, work sample, and oral examination.     

Official Position of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology Social Security Administration Policy on Validity Testing: Guidance and Recommendations for Change

The milestone publication by Slick, Sherman, and Iverson (1999) of criteria for determining malingered neurocognitive dysfunction led to extensive research on validity testing. Position statements by the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) recommended routine validity testing in neuropsychological evaluations. Despite this widespread scientific and professional support, the Social Security Administration (SSA) continued to discourage validity testing, a stance that led to a congressional initiative for SSA to reevaluate their position. In response, SSA commissioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate the science concerning the validation of psychological testing. The IOM concluded that validity assessment was necessary in psychological and neuropsychological examinations (IOM, 2015 Institute of Medicine. (2015). Psychological testing in the service of disability determination. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine. Retrieved from http://iom.nationalacademies.org/Reports/2015/PsychTesting.aspx [Google Scholar]). Objective: The AACN sought to provide independent expert guidance and recommendations concerning the use of validity testing in disability determinations. Method: A panel of contributors to the science of validity testing and its application to the disability process was charged with describing why the disability process for SSA needs improvement, and indicating the necessity for validity testing in disability exams. Results: This work showed how the determination of malingering is a probability proposition, described how different types of validity tests are appropriate, provided evidence concerning non-credible findings in children and low-functioning individuals, and discussed the appropriate evaluation of pain disorders typically seen outside of mental consultations. Conclusions: A scientific plan for validity assessment that additionally protects test security is needed in disability determinations and in research on classification accuracy of disability decisions.     

The Major Thrust in American Psychiatry: Past, Present, and Future

The Silver Anniversary Celebration, a two-day conference held in Washington, D.C. – June 28–29, 1971 – was sponsored by 17 national health and mental health organizations to honor the 25th anniversary of the National Mental Health Act and to give awards in recognition for achievement in the field of mental health.     

The Major Thrust in American Psychiatry: Past, Present, and Future

The Silver Anniversary Celebration, a two-day conference held in Washington, D. C. –June 28–29, 1971 – was sponsored by 17 national health and mental health organizations to honor the 25th anniversary of the National Mental Health Act and to give awards in recognition for achievement in the field of mental health.     

American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology Consensus Conference Statement on the Neuropsychological Assessment of Effort,Response Bias,and Malingering

During the past two decades clinical and research efforts have led to increasingly sophisticated and effective methods and instruments designed to detect exaggeration or fabrication of neuropsychological dysfunction, as well as somatic and psychological symptom complaints. A vast literature based on relevant research has emerged and substantial portions of professional meetings attended by clinical neuropsychologists have addressed topics related to malingering (Sweet, King, Malina, Bergman, & Simmons, 2002 Sweet, JJ, King, JH, Malina, AC, Bergman, MA and Simmons, A. 2002. Documenting the prominence of forensic neuropsychology at national meetings and in relevant professional journals from 1990 to 2000. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 16: 481–494. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Yet, despite these extensive activities, understanding the need for methods of detecting problematic effort and response bias and addressing the presence or absence of malingering has proven challenging for practitioners. A consensus conference, comprised of national and international experts in clinical neuropsychology, was held at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) for the purposes of refinement of critical issues in this area. This consensus statement documents the current state of knowledge and recommendations of expert clinical neuropsychologists and is intended to assist clinicians and researchers with regard to the neuropsychological assessment of effort, response bias, and malingering.