Clinical Neuropsychological Evaluation in Older Adults With Major Depressive Disorder.
Shawn M McClintockLex MintoDavid A DenneyK Chase BaileyC Munro CullumVonetta M DotsonPublished in: Current psychiatry reports (2021)
Research has shown that neurocognitive screening serves a useful purpose to provide an acute and rapid assessment of global cognitive function; however, it has limited sensitivity and specificity. The clinical neuropsychological evaluation process is multifaceted and encompasses a review of available medical records, neurobehavioral status and diagnostic interview, comprehensive cognitive and clinical assessment, examination of inclusion and diversity factors as well as symptom and performance validity, and therapeutic feedback. As such, the evaluation provides invaluable information on multiple cognitive functions, establishes brain and behavior relationships, clarifies neuropsychiatric diagnoses, and can inform the etiology of cognitive impairment. Clinical neuropsychological evaluation plays a unique and critical role in integrated healthcare for older adults with MDD. Indeed, the evaluation can serve as a nexus to synthesize information across healthcare providers in order to maximize measurement-based care that can optimize personalized medicine and overall health outcomes.