| Poster | Poster Session 11 Program Schedule
02/17/2024
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology | Education/Training | Professional Practice Issues
Final Abstract #91
Neurorehabilitation Psychology: Bridging the Gap
Carissa Sawyer, Mercer University, Atlanta, United States
Kathleen Liming, Mercer University, Atlanta, United States
Category: Career Development/Education/Training
Keyword 1: transdisciplinary research
Keyword 2: cognitive rehabilitation
Keyword 3: spinal cord injury
Objective:
Inpatient neurorehabilitation centers utilize interdisciplinary care teams, including neuropsychologists and rehabilitation psychologists, to provide comprehensive healthcare services to individuals who have experienced a neurological injury or illness that typically results in disability (e.g., spinal cord injury, brain injury). Within these settings, the roles and responsibilities of neuropsychologists and rehabilitation psychologists tend to overlap. Neuropsychology is a subspecialty concerned with understanding cognitive, behavioral, and emotional processes in relation to the brain and nervous system, while rehabilitation psychology is a subspecialty dedicated to the psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation and promotion of adaptation to chronic illness and disability. Each discipline is distinguished by the American Board of Professional Psychology and Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Subspecialties in Professional Psychology. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the validity of an unrecognized subspecialty, neurorehabilitation psychology. This critical review outlines key perspectives within this debate and provides rationale for the recognition of neurorehabilitation psychology, particularly within inpatient neurorehabilitation centers.
Participants and Methods:
A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed journals, books, and relevant literature in the fields of neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology was conducted. Academic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Sage Publications, were systematically searched for articles published between 2013 and 2023. The search terms included combinations of “neurorehabilitation psychology;” "neuropsychology" WITH “rehabilitation psychology;” “inpatient neurorehabilitation,” and related keywords. Included articles focused on the role of psychology in inpatient neurorehabilitation settings, differentiation between neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology, and the potential emergence of neurorehabilitation psychology as a distinct discipline. Non-English publications and studies that did not address the topic directly were excluded.
Results:
Traditionally, neuropsychologists focused on assessing neurocognitive deficits, while rehabilitation psychologists addressed psychosocial aspects related to adapting to chronic illness and disability. However, growing recognition of the need for an integrative approach has led to the emergence of neurorehabilitation psychology (Begali, 2021). Its presence is evident within interdisciplinary teams in inpatient rehabilitation centers, where assessments and interventions are tailored to address cognitive and neurological impairments, as well as psychological, emotional, and social aspects of recovery (Johnson-Greene, 2018). Given that neurorehabilitation psychology is not currently recognized as a subspecialty, psychologists interested in this field must choose to specialize in neuropsychology or rehabilitation psychology or pursue both. Stucky and colleagues (2023) delineate the practice of neurorehabilitation psychology and propose specific competencies for clinical training in this discipline.
Conclusions:
Despite the increasing integration of neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology in clinical practice, neurorehabilitation psychology is currently unrecognized as a subspecialty in the field of psychology. Neurorehabilitation psychology promotes a holistic approach to patient care, accounting for the complex interplay among physical rehabilitation, cognitive functioning, behavior, emotional well-being, community reintegration, and psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability. Within inpatient neurorehabilitation centers, neurorehabilitation psychologists may be better equipped to provide comprehensive care and address diverse patient needs. Research is needed to explore the current perspectives of neuropsychologists and rehabilitation psychologists regarding the potential inclusion of neurorehabilitation psychology as a subspecialty, as well as to identify the specific training requirements, competencies, and clinical skills necessary for best practice in neurorehabilitation psychology.
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