Episode 120 | Apathy and Agitation in Neurodegenerative Diseases – With Dr. Krista Lanctôt
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Krista Lanctôt about neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on apathy and agitation. The discussion covers definitions, diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, methods of assessment, relation to degenerative neuropathology, and various treatment approaches.
Episode 118 | Ecological Validity and Technology in Neuropsychology – With Dr. Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe about ecological validity, with a focus on methods for capitalizing on digital technologies to maximize ecological validity in neuropsychology. We cover definitions, methods for assessing ecological validity, naturalistic assessment, smart homes, sensors, privacy and security, and a digital memory notebook.
Episode 116 | Brain Health in Adults – With Dr. Vonetta Dotson
This episode is a broad overview of brain health in adults. We discuss methods for encouraging positive brain health behavior change in our patients, how to help patients who have little to no motivation for change (“precontemplation” stage), the importance of tailoring feedback to a patient’s level of health literacy, research support for various forms of brain health (e.g., sleep, nutrition, physical activity), barriers to brain health behavior change (e.g., SES and the physical environment), the relationship between brain health and mental health, and advocacy work in the brain health space.
Episode 114 | Loneliness – With Dr. Ellen Lee
In this episode, we discuss loneliness with Dr. Ellen Lee. We cover definitions, epidemiology, various assessment methods (including digital technology), relationships with age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and culture, overall physical, cognitive, and mental health effects, and interventions to reduce loneliness.
Episode 112 | Functional (Nonepileptic) Seizures – With Dr. W. Curt LaFrance Jr.
In this episode, we speak with Dr. W. Curt LaFrance about functional (nonepileptic seizures). We cover epidemiology, overlap and differences with regard to epilepsy, negative health outcomes, co-occurring psychological and neurological factors, an etiological framework, cognitive profiles, and treatment. We also discuss general overlap across neurology and psychiatry, as well as future directions in research on functional seizures.
Episode 108 | Functional Neurological Disorders – With Dr. Mark Hallett
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mark Hallett about functional neurological disorders (FNDs). We cover the history, epidemiology, symptomatology, and pathophysiology of FNDs. We touch on the issue of “lumping versus splitting,” controversies in the literature, the need for better training on FNDs in medicine and psychology, and currently available treatments, among other topics.
Episode 104 | Deaf and Hard of Hearing Neuropsychological Evaluations in Children – With Dr. Jennifer Reesman
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jennifer Reesman about neuropsychological evaluations of children from the D/deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) community. We discuss DHH culture, language deprivation syndrome, medical etiologies of hearing loss, sign language and cued speech, cochlear implants, and various considerations for neuropsychological evaluations in children from the DHH community.
Episode 102 | Working Memory – With Dr. Alan Baddeley
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Alan Baddeley about working memory. We cover the distinction between short term memory and working memory, the four components of his multicomponent model, applications to clinical assessment, training working memory, and methods for building scientific theories in cognitive psychology and neuropsychology.
Episode 96 | Polypharmacy in Older Adults – With Dr. Mike Steinman and Dr. Matthew Growdon
In this episode, we discuss polypharmacy and deprescribing with two geriatricians. We cover definitions of polypharmacy, inappropriate polypharmacy, deprescribing as an intervention, specific drug classes with potential for cognitive side effects in older adults, and a neuropsychologist’s role in clinical care related to polypharmacy.
Episode 94 | Neuropsychological Rehabilitation After Acquired Brain Injury – With Dr. Dana Wong
This episode is a conversation about neuropsychological interventions for adult patients with acquired brain injuries such as TBI, stroke, or hypoxia. We define and differentiate different terms for neuropsychological interventions, we list and describe specific cognitive interventions, we discuss the importance of emotional symptoms following brain injuries, and we explain characteristics of intervention effectiveness.