Abstract
Neuropsychological assessment is an important diagnostic tool that can provide additional information for diagnosing mental disorders during childhood and adolescence. While in the past, the challenge of a neuropsychological assessment was to detect whether or not the child had suffered brain damage, this aim changed with the development of better, non-invasive brain-imaging techniques. On the basis of four single cases it is demonstrated that brain damage causes not only direct, but also indirect deficits. In particular, the indirect consequences of early brain lesions, such as behavioral disorders and persistent neuropsychological deficits, are very often reasons to seek clinical treatment. The characteristics of children and adolescents with organic mental disorders with regard to diagnosis and intervention will be exemplified and discussed within the following four case studies.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
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Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
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Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy
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Brain Damage, Chronic / complications
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Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnosis*
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Brain Damage, Chronic / psychology
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Brain Damage, Chronic / therapy
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Child
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Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis*
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Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
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Child Behavior Disorders / therapy
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Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
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Cognition Disorders / therapy
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Comorbidity
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / diagnosis
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Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / psychology
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Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / therapy
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Female
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Humans
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Learning Disabilities / diagnosis
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Learning Disabilities / psychology
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Learning Disabilities / therapy
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Male
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Memory Disorders / diagnosis
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Memory Disorders / psychology
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Memory Disorders / therapy
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Neuropsychological Tests*
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Tic Disorders / diagnosis
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Tic Disorders / psychology
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Tic Disorders / therapy