Special Issues of The Clinical Neuropsychologist – serie

This Special Issue presents proceedings of the International Conference on Behavioral Health and Traumatic Brain Injury convened in October 2008 that brought together over 100 international scientists, health care professionals, policy makers, US Military personnel, and family members, addressing the issues of mild traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder in the military. The conference produced a Report to US Congress outlining recommendations for state of the art, novel approaches in research, technology, diagnosis, treatment, training, and outreach. The issue contains the Report, a message from US Congressman Bill Pascrell, and articles authored by participants of the conference.

There are critical issues facing the neuropsychological community, such as inadequate reimbursement for services, a lack of familiarity among public policy makers regarding the science and practice of neuropsychology, and a lack of public policy awareness among professional neuropsychologists. Advocacy for the field is the most effective way to undertake positive change. Currently, a minority of psychological professionals actively engages in an advocacy process. With weak advocacy, our field risks slower development in key areas and without strong and constant advocacy, we risk losing ground previously gained. The purpose of this special issue of The Clinical Neuropsychologist, is to: (1) convey the importance of advocacy, (2) address and dispel unfounded mental obstacles that inhibit involvement in advocating for the specialty, and (3) aid neuropsychologists in preparing to join the advocacy process. A primary motivation to engage in advocacy should be found in the stark realization that most critical decisions that affect neuropsychological practice are made by non-neuropsychologists. The twelve articles in this issue address topics such as increasing the public’s awareness of neuropsychology, how to advocate for neuropsychology in the government sector, how to advocate for specific patient populations, promotion of professional identity and scope of practice, advancement of the science of the field, select issues at the interface of neuropsychology and the law, increasing the diversity of neuropsychological practitioners, and increasing services to underserved populations. It is our hope that this special issue will be a catalyst for positive change.

The Stein Fellow and Drexel University Pediatric Neuropsychology Symposium was held in collaboration with the Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society in November 2010. Pediatric Neuropsychology is a rapidly growing and dynamic subspecialty dealing with the normal and abnormal development of the human brain where new assessments and interventions and new professional issues are emerging. The Drexel Symposium brought together leading scientists and clinicians whose research, scholarship, and clinical practice are informing and shaping the evolution of the field. The goal of the Special Issue is to illustrate some of those research, clinical, and professional directions including advocacy and training that are specific to the developing subspecialty of Pediatric Neuropsychology.