The course aims to outline the phases and methodological aspects underlying a neuropsychological evaluation in the clinical and forensic fields. At the end of the course, the student must be able to (1) recognize which tools to use,(2) read the results of the main psychometric tests and (3) be able to use these results in order to write the main parts of a report or a clinical report.

The program is divided into 13 topics:

1) Introduction to clinical and forensic neuropsychology (Lesson 1)

2) Anamnesis and Semeiotics in neuropsychology (Lesson 2)

3) Psychometric evaluation and neuropsychological tests: methodological aspects (Lesson 3)

4) psychometric test scores: normative data, Z scores, adjusted scores, equivalent scores, cut-off (Lessons 4 and 5)

5) Interpretation of ambiguous test results (Lesson 6)

6) Tools for assessing intellectual functioning and global cognitive functioning (Lessons 7 and 8)

7) Tools for the evaluation of executive functions and attention (Lesson 9)

8) Tools for assessing language skills (Lessons 10 and 11)

9) Tools for assessing memory skills (Lesson 12 - 13)

10) Tools for assessing specific skills (Lessons 14)

11) The problem of simulation and assessment tools (Lesson 15)

12) The neuropsychological diagnosis and the preparation of the report (Lessons 16 and 17)

13) Ethical aspects in the neuropsychological field (Lesson 18)

None

The student will have to show that he has

- Knowledge and understanding: acquired the methodological and psychometrics principles underlying the use of neuropsychological assessment tools in the clinical and forensic fields

- Applying knowledge and understanding: acquired the ability to interpret the results of the main neuropsychological assessment tools

- Making judgments: acquired the ability to use psychometrics knowledge and concepts for the description of a case and the ability to formulate a diagnostic hypothesis based on the scores obtained in neuropsychological tests

- Communication skills: acquired the specific language for the neuropsychological description and the preparation of a report

- Learning skills: Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired good autonomy in the selection of the most suitable tools for neuropsychological assessment in different contexts.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminars on the use of test tools and about the scoring procedures

Teaching

Lectures

Innovative teaching methods

Problem-Solving based Learning

Attendance

Not mandatory

To give students and non-attending students the opportunity to compensate for what is done during the lessons with independent study, we recommend using all the materials included in the Blended Learning platform (videos, exercises, supplementary material, examples of questions exam) particularly useful for fully understanding the contents of the program.

Course books

Sara Mondini, Daniela Mapelli, Giorgio Arcara (2016). Semeiotica e diagnosi neuropsicologica: Metodologia per la valutazione. Carocci Editori

(Cap 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)

Chiorri - TEORIA E TECNICA PSICOMETRICA 2/ED  (Cap 1, 2, 5, 7, 8)

Vallar G., Papagno C. (III Edizione, che 2018). Manuale di neuropsicologia.Clinica ed elementi di riabilitazione. 3ª ed. Bologna: Il Mulino

(Cap 5)

Stracciari, A., Bianchi, A., & Sartori, G. (2010). Neuropsicologia forense. Il mulino.

[Cap 1,  2 (solo paragrafo 6), 4, 7, 8]

Assessment

For students who are in their first year of the master's degree course in the academic year 2024/2025, a midterm exam will be scheduled in April that will include 10 multiple-choice questions (12 minutes) and a section of practical exercises (20 minutes). For the section relating to multiple-choice questions, each question is worth 1 point. The exam is sufficient if you get at least 6. Once the multiple-choice section is over, you will have to complete practical exercises (maximum 20 points, sufficient = 12). Practical exercises will be corrected only if the multiple-choice score is above 6. The final grade will be given by the sum of the score obtained in the multiple-choice questions and the score obtained in the practical exercises. The midterm exam is considered passed if you have received at least 18.

Those who pass the midterm multiple-choice exam can take a shorter test during the exam session. In this case, the test will consist of providing an answer to two open questions relating to the second part of the exam program (40 minutes, sufficient = 18). I will evaluate specific knowledge, language skills and argumentative and critical skills. 

The final grade recorded will equal the average between the grade obtained in the midterm test and the grade received in this open-ended test.

If you did not get at least 18 on the midterm test, or if you did not take the midterm test, you will be able to access the exam test directly, which will cover the entire program. In this case, You will have 15 multiple-choice questions (20 minutes). Each question will be worth 2 points, and the test will be sufficient if you provide at least 9 correct answers. After the multiple-choice questions, there will be an open-ended test with practical exercises nd theoretical questions (40 minutes).

The reference scheme for assigning scores to the practical exercises with theoretical questions will be as follows:

·  less than 18: insufficient level of competence.

·  18-20: sufficient level of competence.

·  21-23: entirely sufficient level of competence.

· 24-26: Good level of competence.

·  27-30: excellent level of competence.

· 30 cum laude: excellent level of competence.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Lectures

Attendance

Not mandatory

To give students and non-attending students the opportunity to compensate for what is done during the lessons with independent study, we recommend using all the materials included in the Blended Learning platform (videos, exercises, supplementary material, examples of questions exam) particularly useful for fully understanding the contents of the program.

Course books

Sara Mondini, Daniela Mapelli, Giorgio Arcara (2016). Semeiotica e diagnosi neuropsicologica: Metodologia per la valutazione. Carocci Editori

(Cap 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)

Chiorri - TEORIA E TECNICA PSICOMETRICA 2/ED  (Cap 1, 2, 5, 7, 8)

Vallar G., Papagno C. (III Edizione, che 2018). Manuale di neuropsicologia.Clinica ed elementi di riabilitazione. 3ª ed. Bologna: Il Mulino

(Cap 5)

Stracciari, A., Bianchi, A., & Sartori, G. (2010). Neuropsicologia forense. Il mulino.

[Cap 1,  2 (solo paragrafo 6), 4, 7, 8]

Assessment

For students who are in their first year of the master's degree course in the academic year 2024/2025, a midterm exam will be scheduled in April that will include 10 multiple-choice questions (12 minutes) and a section of practical exercises (20 minutes). For the section relating to multiple-choice questions, each question is worth 1 point. The exam is sufficient if you get at least 6. Once the multiple-choice section is over, you will have to complete practical exercises (maximum 20 points, sufficient = 12). Practical exercises will be corrected only if the multiple-choice score is above 6. The final grade will be given by the sum of the score obtained in the multiple-choice questions and the score obtained in the practical exercises. The midterm exam is considered passed if you have received at least 18.

Those who pass the midterm multiple-choice exam can take a shorter test during the exam session. In this case, the test will consist of providing an answer to two open questions relating to the second part of the exam program (40 minutes, sufficient = 18). I will evaluate specific knowledge, language skills and argumentative and critical skills. 

The final grade recorded will equal the average between the grade obtained in the midterm test and the grade received in this open-ended test.

If you did not get at least 18 on the midterm test, or if you did not take the midterm test, you will be able to access the exam test directly, which will cover the entire program. In this case, You will have 15 multiple-choice questions (20 minutes). Each question will be worth 2 points, and the test will be sufficient if you provide at least 9 correct answers. After the multiple-choice questions, there will be an open-ended test with practical exercises nd theoretical questions (40 minutes).

The reference scheme for assigning scores to the practical exercises with theoretical questions will be as follows:

·  less than 18: insufficient level of competence.

·  18-20: sufficient level of competence.

·  21-23: entirely sufficient level of competence.

· 24-26: Good level of competence.

·  27-30: excellent level of competence.

· 30 cum laude: excellent level of competence.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

None