Neuropsychology service

This is a small team of clinical and assistant psychologists, led by a consultant clinical psychologist.

Why might someone be referred to the neuropsychology service?

Individuals are referred to the neuropsychology service for a number of reasons including:

• Difficulty adjusting to the consequences of receiving a neurological diagnosis
• Assessment of problems with thinking, such as difficulties with memory and concentration
• Distressing symptoms for which there is no neurological diagnosis

People who are referred may be experiencing difficult feelings about a diagnosis of epilepsy, functional neurological disorder, multiple sclerosis, head injury, Parkinson's disease, or another neurological condition, and could benefit from neuropsychological help.

Sometimes people who are referred do not have a neurological diagnosis, but are still worried about difficulties with their memory, concentration and thinking, or other symptoms. Changes in memory, concentration and thinking, and other symptoms may arise from a number of causes, including psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression, as well as from neurological conditions.

How can neuropsychology help?

The neuropsychology department can conduct assessments to investigate difficulties and decide on a way to help patients manage them. After this initial assessment, a decision will be made with the individual about whether to meet again and talk more about feelings, symptoms, and/or diagnosis.

After a neuropsychological assessment, a feedback appointment will be made. At this appointment, a psychologist will collate the test results and explain what they mean. 

There may be further appointments involving evidence-based interventions to work on strategies that help with difficulties. If the individual requires therapy or help coping with their difficulties, future appointments will mainly involve talking through these problems to better understand them and learn evidence-based techniques and skills to help manage them. This may include:

• Developing a better understanding of the symptoms and/or subsequent diagnosis
• Developing a deeper understanding of how the individual copes with their symptoms/diagnosis now and what they may be able to do to improve symptoms
• Starting to develop more strategies for coping with their own emotions
• Identifying unhelpful or self-defeating strategies and starting to let these go
• Focussing on adapting and adjusting to having health problems and moving towards a better quality of life

We use a range of approaches, including neuropsychological cognitive assessments, psychological models such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and compassion focused therapy.

Psychological therapy is mostly on a one-to-one basis but we will sometimes gather information from relatives/carers to aid our understanding of symptoms/difficulties.