Neuropsychology Elective

The Neuropsychology Elective is designed to provide extensive clinical training and lay the foundation for careers in neuropsychology. The program follows APA/Division 40 guidelines for internship training in clinical neuropsychology.

Assessment & Evaluation

The core of clinical training in neuropsychology takes place in the Mass General Psychology Assessment Center (PAC). This is an outpatient setting in which interns gain experience with a variety of neurological and non-neurological patient populations including memory disorders, movement disorders, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor/oncology, developmental/learning disorders, psychiatric disorders, toxic/metabolic conditions and infections.

The neuropsychology specialty is developmentally oriented: Interns have supervised experience with pediatric, adult and geriatric patients, and are supervised by neuropsychologists with specialties in these different areas. Interns will have the opportunity to evaluate patients from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes the opportunity to evaluate patients who are non-native English speakers with the assistance of medically trained interpreters.

Consultation

Interns in the neuropsychology will serve as consultants in a variety of settings, including:

• Providing diagnostic and treatment planning information through report writing
• Feedback sessions with patients, families and referral sources
• Participation in multidisciplinary treatment team settings
• Presentation at educational planning meetings

Treatment

For the outpatient psychotherapy experience, interns see patients referred through behavioral medicine or cognitive behavioral therapy in the adult outpatient clinic.

Research

The track is modeled in the scientist-practitioner model. Interns will integrate research into their practice through literature review on a case-by-case basis. They additionally have the opportunity to become involved in original or ongoing research at the PAC or in the larger Mass General community.

Didactics

In addition to the internship core didactics, the following seminars are required:

• Neuropsychology Seminar: A 10-month, weekly seminar focusing on professional issues related to neuropsychology practice, neuroanatomy and neuroimaging, development and neurodevelopmental syndromes, clinical neurology, acquired CNS syndromes, and dementia (1 hour weekly)
• Neuropsychology Case Conference: This is a 10-month, weekly seminar that allows participants to hone their skills in neuropsychological fact-finding and case formulation
• Additional Didactic Experiences: Behavioral Neurology Rounds, Neurology Grand Rounds, Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar, Epilepsy Case Conference/Neurosurgical Rounds, Movement Disorders Surgical Rounds, Joint Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry Rounds, Brain Cutting and Neuroradiology Rounds

Supervision

• Individual psychotherapy supervision – 1 hour weekly
• Assessment/Testing – 2 hours weekly including “real-time” supervision with each case assigned
• Group supervision – 1 hour weekly

Related Links

• Psychology Assessment Center