
- Vol 31 No 4
- Volume 31
- Issue 4
Introduction: Understanding the Links Between Neuroscience and Behavior
An overview of Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry, a medical specialty committed to better understanding links between neuroscience and behavior and to the care of individuals with neurologically based behavioral disturbances.
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In their CME article,
In patients with Parkinson disease, neuropsychiatric problems often develop in addition to the “movement” disorder. Psychosis is the most difficult to treat, since medications used to improve movements may produce psychosis, and antipsychotic medications can exacerbate parkinsonian symptoms.
There are several ways to assess a patient’s cognitive status, ranging from brief screening tests to comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations.
Although excellent, these articles offer only a brief exposure to the issues that we confront. The American Neuropsychiatric Association2 is an exciting multidisciplinary organization devoted to this specialty. In 2004, the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties,1 an organization composed of all of the major neurology organizations, recognized the subspecialty status of BN & NP.3 Since 2006, 23 accredited fellowship training programs have emerged, and we now have 321 diplomates who have passed the certification examination. After May 2014, you will be required to complete a fellowship training program in order to take the examination. Thus, if you wish to be certified, and are not currently a fellow, you must apply now to take the next examination offered in October 2014.
There are many excellent journals (eg, Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Psychiatry) and books (eg, Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry,4 Management of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury,5 Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury,6 and Textbook of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences7) that provide clinically relevant information to help you treat your patients with these disorders. I hope that these Special Report articles are practical and informative and stimulate your interest in our field.
Disclosures:
Dr Silver is Clinical Professor in the department of dsychiatry at the NYU Medical Center in New York, Past President and Fellow of the American Neuropsychiatric Association, and Diplomate in Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry. He reports no conflicts of interest concerning the subject matter of this Special Report.
References:
1. American Neuropsychiatric Association. http://www.anpaonline.org. Accessed March 5, 2014.
2. United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. http://www.ucns.org. Accessed March 5, 2014.
3. Silver JM. Behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry is a subspecialty. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;18:146-148.
4. Arciniegas DB, Anderson CA, Filley CM, eds. Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2013.
5. Arciniegas DB, Zasler ND, Vanderploeg RD, Jaffee MS. Management of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.
6. Silver JM, McAllister TW, Yudofsky SC, eds. Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2011.
7. Yudofsky SC, Hales RE, eds. Textbook of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008.
Articles in this issue
over 11 years ago
Tips for Conducting Disability Evaluationsover 11 years ago
Pain, Opioids, and Psychiatristsover 11 years ago
Ketamine Anesthesia for Electroconvulsive Therapyover 11 years ago
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Should We Be Worried?over 11 years ago
Epilepsy and Seizures: Neuropsychiatric Implicationsover 11 years ago
Management of Psychosis in Parkinson Diseaseover 11 years ago
Computerized Neurocognitive Tests in Clinical Practiceover 11 years ago
What Is the Role of Vitamin D in Depression?over 11 years ago
Clinical Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndromesover 11 years ago
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