From Symptom to Synapse: A Neurocognitive Perspective on Clinical Psychology

The purpose of this book is to introduce clinical psychologists, other mental health practitioners, and researchers to the neurocognitive approach to assessing and treating psychiatric disorders. It will provide a basic introduction to the research that integrates conventional clinical diagnostic methods with neuropsychological testing, cognitive assessment strategies, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and other psychophysiological models. Readers will learn how these measures can be used to elucidate target domains of dysfunction that extend beyond the framework provided by the DSM and inform the optimal treatment of psychiatric disorders.

The beginning chapters will discuss the history, emergence, and priorities of the neurocognitive approach and explain the basic principles and limitations of brain- and body-based assessment tools. Subsequent chapters will address individual psychiatric disorders in this neurocognitive context and follow a standard format: a thorough description of the clinical problem; a review of the most recent literature; a discussion of how the neurocognitive approach advances our understanding of the disorder; and conclusions for future research and practice.