Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists最新文献

{"title":"Clinical applicability of the BT2-NPS for assessing neuropsychiatric symptoms across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.","authors":"Nerea Carrión, Luis Heredia, Jordi Peña-Casanova, Margarita Torrente","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acag029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acag029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to examine the clinical applicability of the Barcelona-2 Test Neuropsychiatric Symptomatology Scale (BT2-NPS) in a Spanish population comprising healthy controls (HC), individuals with single-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, the study sought to characterize the distinct trajectories of neuropsychiatric symptoms (Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia [BPSD]) across the cognitive continuum and evaluate the scale's diagnostic utility.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 37 HC, 31 aMCI, and 76 AD participants, aged 60-85 years, were assessed using the BT2-NPS. Quade's test (controlling for age and education) was used to examine the differences in BT2-NPS scores across diagnostic groups and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) stages. Symptom progression was analyzed descriptively to identify patterns, and partial convergent validity was explored using the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The BT2-NPS Total score significantly differentiated between diagnostic groups and GDS stages. Three distinct symptom patterns emerged: a \"Severity-Dependent\" Pattern (e.g., apathy, insight loss) increasing linearly with severity; an \"Inverted-U Pattern\" (e.g., anxiety, depression) peaking in prodromal stages before declining; and a \"Late-Emergence Pattern\" (e.g., hallucinations) appearing only in advanced stages. No gender differences were observed. Correlations with self-reported GADS were weak.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings support the BT2-NPS as a clinically meaningful tool for staging BPSD in older adults. Crucially, the study demonstrates that affective symptoms may decline in later stages not due to clinical remission, but due to the progression of apathy and loss of insight. The scale captures this complex behavioral landscape, contributing to more personalized and compassionate care approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147849103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining Neighborhood Disadvantage, Brain Healthcare Access, and Neuropsychological Disparities in Underserved Older Adults.","authors":"Caroline Nester Rooney, Sarah Prieto, Madeline Rahilly, Eliana Boxerman, Laura E Korthauer","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acag020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acag020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To understand community-based brain health disparities, we investigated demographic and neuropsychological differences by neighborhood disadvantage in older patients presenting for neuropsychological evaluation.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This retrospective chart review calculated patients' (N = 529, Mage = 73.5 ± 8.0, Meducation = 13.5 ± 3.2, %female = 61.8, %White = 86.8, %non-Hispanic = 95.3) state-level Area Deprivation Index (ADI) to compare patients from the 20% most disadvantaged (n = 61) to the 80% least disadvantaged areas (n = 468).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients from disadvantaged areas were less likely to access care (11.5% of sample), had lower educational attainment (p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.60), and were more likely to require a medical interpreter (p < .001, Cramer's V = 0.17). They had lower premorbid baselines (p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.52), had lower performances on tests of processing speed (p = .039, Cohen's d = .30), attention (p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.48), and executive functioning (p = .039, Cohen's d = 0.34), and endorsed more depressive symptoms (p = .026, Cohen's d = 0.33).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings highlight the need for targeted outreach, culturally responsive care, and community-based brain health initiatives to foster cognitive resilience and equitable care access.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147577494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The experience of behavioral observation in neuropsychological assessment: a conventional content analysis.","authors":"Lodovica Bicego, Eric B Vogel, Kathleen E Kendra","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acag019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acag019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Behavioral observation in neuropsychology involves the systematic recording of an individual's behaviors during the assessment process by a qualified observer. The role of behavioral observation is to identify how patients function in their environment, as well as how they approach tasks during the assessment process. Observations identify cognitive patterns that may not be revealed through testing. There is a gap in the literature regarding how practitioners routinely conceptualize and use such observations. This qualitative study aimed to explore clinical neuropsychologists' experiences related to behavioral observation.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Researchers recruited 10 U.S.-based licensed clinical neuropsychologists with experience using behavioral observation in neuropsychological assessments for dementia. Participation involved semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings indicate that neuropsychologists rely on behavioral observations to capture patterns that standardized tests might overlook. Data analysis yielded 6 categories, each with 2-3 subcategories. The categories were: (1) complexity of behavioral observation requires individualized experiential training approaches; (2) behavioral observation should be continuous throughout all patient contacts; (3) behavioral observations contextualize findings; (4) testing can reveal deficits not apparent from observation; (5) challenges related to dependence on the judgment of trained observers; and (6) formalizing behavioral observation involves challenges, risks, and potential benefits.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings from this study highlight the contribution of behavioral observation to enhancing ecological validity in neuropsychological assessments, the vital role of individualized mentorship in training observational skills, and the challenges that make standardization difficult.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147489251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of multilevel neuropsychological group intervention (EXAT) in children with executive functioning and attention deficits: a comparative study with typically developing controls.","authors":"Elina Vierikko, Fiia Takio, Kati Rantanen","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acag028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acag028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examined the effects of the multilevel EXAT (Rehabilitation of Executive Function and Attention) intervention on executive function (EF) in Finnish children with EF and attention deficits, compared to typically developing (TD) controls who received no EF intervention.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study included 59 children aged 7-12 years with EF deficits and 78 age-matched non-intervention TD controls. The EXAT intervention lasted 9 months and comprised weekly sessions for children, monthly parent sessions, and 2-3 school consultations. Parent-rated EF intervention effects were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Baseline and post-assessment BRIEF T-scores were compared between groups using t-tests, reliable change indices were calculated for individual EF changes, and linear regression analyses were used to explore associations between background variables and EF changes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children in the EXAT group showed significant improvements across all BRIEF indices and subscales, with small to moderate effect sizes. Individual-level analysis indicated that 22%-41% of participants achieved reliable EF improvements, mainly those with severe initial deficits. The control group exhibited minor, clinically insignificant changes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EXAT positively impacted EF, especially in behavior regulation and metacognition among children with substantial deficits. However, about one-quarter continued to experience EF challenges after the intervention. Findings highlight the importance of individualized assessment and intervention planning within group settings to address diverse EF profiles. Tailoring support to each child's strengths and weaknesses is essential for optimizing outcomes. Further research with larger, diverse samples and multi-informant assessments is needed to confirm results and examine long-term effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13122354/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147795019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linguistic Barriers in U.S. Neuropsychological Assessment: A State-of-the-Art Review.","authors":"Ashby Martin","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acaf091","DOIUrl":"10.1093/arclin/acaf091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the USA, 67.86 million people speak a language other than English at home. Many of these homes speak both English and a non-English language, with varying degrees of English fluency. A sizable 25.70 million people (8% of the U.S. population) report speaking, reading, or writing English \"less than well\" or \"not at all.\" These individuals are referred to as limited English proficiency (LEP) speakers. Such persons often need speech interpreters in health care and human service settings. When a speech interpreter is utilized to assess a LEP patient, the typical dyadic clinician-patient interaction shifts to a triadic clinician-interpreter-patient interaction. Although triadic interpreter-mediated interactions are commonplace in neuropsychological assessment when LEP patients are being evaluated, few guidelines exist for these interactions. To illustrate the current state of interpreter-mediated neuropsychological assessment in the USA, literature on the following themes have been reviewed: (1) existing language accessibility options; (2) the history of speech interpretation, clinically; (3) key distinctions in the profile of U.S. patients; (4) what linguistics barriers exist, have been addressed, and have arisen from the implementation of language accommodations in clinical practice; and (5) what recommendations have been established for the neuropsychological assessment of LEP patients. By detailing these five areas in the context of local, state, and national-level variability, this review identifies some of the systemic roots of linguistic barriers in the USA. Updated recommendation guidelines are outlined to promote efficacious and equitable neuropsychological assessment of LEP patients for implementation in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13034539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147577515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and Cogstate Normative Data of Australian 12- and 13-Year-Olds.","authors":"Poppy L Ball, Amanda Boyes, Marcella Parker, Maddison Crethar, Shae Rendall, Daniel F Hermens, Sophie C Andrews","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acag010","DOIUrl":"10.1093/arclin/acag010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Establish normative data for 12- and 13-year-olds on commonly administered tasks from two widely used computerized neuropsychological test batteries, the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and Cogstate.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>One hundred twenty 12-13-year-olds (56% female) completed CANTAB (Paired Associates Learning, Cambridge Gambling Task, and Multitasking Test) and/or Cogstate (Groton Maze Learning Task, Detection Test, Identification Test, One-Back Test, and Two-Back Test) between 2018 and 2025 as part of the Australian cohort Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to establish cognitive norms and assess relationships with sex and age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cognitive scores did not vary by sex. Thirteen-year-olds were more accurate and faster on One-Back and faster on the Identification Test than 12-year-olds.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These data may be used for comparison with adolescents from average-upper socioeconomic status in high-income countries. Future research should develop norms for adolescents of differing age and socioeconomic status.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147319378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation Training Improves Executive Function and Complex Attention in Veterans With mTBI-Randomized-Control Study.","authors":"Rachel Santiago, Maria Kryza-Lacombe, Jillian Tessier, Anna Hwang, Brian A Maruyama, Sky Raptentsetsang, Gary Abrams, Pratik Mukherjee, Tatjana Novakovic-Agopian","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acaf087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acaf087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most common brain injury. Some individuals experience ongoing cognitive, physical, and emotional complaints post-mTBI. Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation (GOALS) is a cognitive rehabilitation training that incorporates applied mindfulness-based attention regulation strategies into its protocol and targets executive control difficulties. This study expands previous work that demonstrated improved executive function, functional outcomes, and emotional functioning among veterans with acquired brain injury and examines GOALS training effects in veterans with a history of mTBI, specifically.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Veterans with a history of mTBI at least 6 months post-injury (N = 32) were randomly assigned to GOALS (n = 18) or an intensity-matched active control group (Brain Health Education [BHE] training; n = 14). Evaluator blinded assessments at baseline and post-intervention included neuropsychological and complex functional task performance, and self-report measures of emotional functioning/regulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GOALS, but not BHE, showed significant improvements on a composite measure of overall Attention/Executive Function composite, and on measures of Working Memory, Sustained Attention, Inhibition, and complex functional ability. There was also a significant decrease in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>GOALS training improved performance on neuropsychological and ecologically valid functional measures of complex attention and executive function, as well as emotional functioning in veterans with mTBI. Improving executive functions may also improve functioning in other domains such as emotional regulation and functional performance, making it particularly relevant for veterans with a history of mTBI and comorbid psychiatric symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"False positive low score rates on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV México and U.S. version core subtests from neurologically intact, balanced bilingual, Mexican Americans.","authors":"Gabriela Ontiveros, Philip Gerard Gasquoine","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acag021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acag021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare false positive rates on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) core subtests from the México and U.S. versions among neurologically intact, balanced bilingual, Mexican Americans with varying cut scores (≤ 7; ≤ 6; ≤ 5 scale scores: i.e., ≥ 1.0, ≥ 1.33, and ≥ 1.67 SDs) while estimating preexisting skill level at the normative 50th percentile versus a performance-based estimate.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 participants (M = 10.18 education years) administered the two WAIS-IV versions (intertest interval = 5.68 days) in a counterbalanced repeated measures design. Sample language balance was established by subtraction of the Spanish from the English Woodcock-Muñoz Language Survey-Revised Picture Vocabulary (WMLS-R PV) subtest scores for each participant (M = -0.18).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Estimating preexisting skill level at the 50th percentile of WAIS-IV norms produced false positive rates of 0.32, 0.17, and 0.06 for the México version and 0.53, 0.37, and 0.24 for the U.S. at cut scores of ≤ 7, ≤ 6, and ≤ 5, respectively. Using the WMLS-R PV to estimate preexisting skill level significantly reduced the false positive rate to between ≤ 3% and zero across both versions and all cut scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>WAIS-IV false positive rates, likely influenced by racial/ethnically correlated variables of years of education, bilingualism, and qualitative aspects of education, were significantly lower for the México than the U.S. versions across all cut-scores. They were significantly reduced for both versions and all cut scores by using a performance-based estimate of preexisting skill level versus the normative 50th percentile.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":"41 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147635408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The MINT Sprint 2.0: a Picture Naming Test for Detection of Naming Impairments in ΜCI Due or Not to AD, Greek Version.","authors":"Aristi Alopoudi, Despina Moraitou, Thomas Tegos, Magda Tsolaki","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acaf106","DOIUrl":"10.1093/arclin/acaf106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Naming impairments are among the earliest cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (ad), particularly affecting semantic memory and lexical retrieval. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of the Greek adaptation of the MINT Sprint 2.0, a culturally tailored picture-naming test, in identifying naming deficits in preclinical and early ad.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 170 Greek-speaking participants were classified into three diagnostic groups: (1) MCI biomarker positive (preclinical ad), (2) MCI biomarker negative, and (3) cognitively intact (CI) (biomarker negative). Participants completed the MINT Sprint 2.0, comprising naming accuracy (MINTFIRSTPASS) and response latency (MINTFIRSTPASSTIME). Multivariate and univariate ANOVAs were used to assess group differences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Diagnosis significantly influenced performance across both measures, accounting for 26.5% of variance in accuracy and 52.7% in latency (p < .01). MANOVA revealed a large multivariate effect (Pillai's Trace V = 0.674, p < .01). Post hoc tests confirmed that all groups differed significantly on both variables, with biomarker-positive individuals performing worse and slower than other groups. MINT Sprint 2.0 elicited significantly different performance across diagnostic groups, supporting its potential utility in detecting early AD-related changes and offering enhanced sensitivity to early lexical retrieval deficits and response speed. Strong correlations between MINT Sprint and 15-BNT scores supported convergent validity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Greek MINT Sprint 2.0 is a valid and sensitive tool for detecting early ad-related naming impairments. Its cultural relevance and inclusion of response time make it superior to traditional naming tests, offering potential as a primary screening measure in Greek-speaking populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13017928/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145656736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Laying the Groundwork for Clinical Neuropsychology in Romania: Beliefs and Practices of Psychologists Regarding Validity Testing in Clinical Assessment.","authors":"Radmila Jana Šakotić, Iulia Crişan","doi":"10.1093/arclin/acaf116","DOIUrl":"10.1093/arclin/acaf116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The present study aimed to explore and document Romanian psychologists' practices and beliefs regarding validity testing in clinical assessment, given the lack of neuropsychology as a practice field in this country.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We developed a questionnaire addressing several key aspects, including demographic and professional information, and beliefs and practices related to validity testing in clinical assessment. The questionnaire was distributed to all practitioners licensed in clinical psychology registered on the official website of the Romanian College of Psychologists (RCP). The final sample consisted of 344 practitioners, 312 of whom had been active in assessments during the previous year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings revealed several cultural particularities, including the preference of 49.4% of the sample for employing the Tree Drawing Test (Koch, K. (1954). Der Baumtest - Der Baumzeichenversuch als psychodiagnostisches Hilfsmittel. Hans Huber. Romanian translation by Mocanu, S. (2002). Testul Arborelui - Diagnosticul psihologic cu ajutorul testului arborelui. Profex. Bucuresti) - a projective drawing technique - as a validity test. Only 16.7% of practitioners reported using empirically supported validity tests in clinical evaluations, and several performance validity tests were reported by 2-12.5% of the sample. Additionally, the prevalence of malingering was estimated to be 5%-20% and most respondents associated it with personality disorders.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results indicate a need to bridge the gap between science and practice by adopting evidence-based approaches within the Romanian assessment culture. Our survey offers novel empirical insights into the current state of validity assessment in Romania, thereby contributing foundational knowledge that may support the legitimization and further development of neuropsychology within the national context.</p>","PeriodicalId":520564,"journal":{"name":"Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145764929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}