The role of neuropsychological testing in neurological disease

Abstract

Neuropsychological assessment is an important tool for evaluating cognitive function in patients with neurologic and psychiatric disease. It provides a standardized and reliable quantitative assessment of cognitive strengths and limitations. Level of cognitive functioning is determined relative to peer-referenced normative data and patterns of relative capabilities and limitations are examined. Neuropsychological testing is particularly useful in detecting subtle cognitive dysfunction and documenting change over time.