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Postdoctoral
Residency in Clinical Neuropsychology
Program
Overview
Program
Mission:
To provide advanced level clinical, didactic and academic training to
produce competent psychologists in the specialty of Clinical Neuropsychology.
Entry Requirements:
Successful completion of an APA accredited doctoral education and training
program as well as an internship program that includes substantial training
in clinical neuropsychology. No candidates who are ABD at the beginning
of the Residency will be considered.
Program Components:
- Development of
advanced skill in the neuropsychological evaluation and treatment
of patients, and consultation to patients and professionals sufficient
to practice on an independent basis;
- Development of
advanced understanding of brain-behavior relationships; medical neuroanatomy
course.
- Scholarly activity,
e.g., submission of a study or literature review for publication,
presentation, and submission of a grant proposal or outcome assessment.
- Pedagogical activities,
e.g. teaching contributions to Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar, Neuroanatomy
Review, facilitation of monthly Journal Club and opportunities for
supervision of a psychology intern or extern.
Program Structure:
This is a two-year residency. Three days (60%) of the postdoctoral resident's
week will be spent engaged in providing clinical service, including
assessment and treatment activities. The remaining two days (40%) will
be will be spent in research and educational activities.
The Neuropsychology Division provides neuropsychological assessment
of adult and pediatric inpatients and outpatients drawn from the medical
center's Departments of Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, Neuropsychiatry, Rehabilitation,
Neurogenetics, Neurology, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Medicine, as well
as from outside referral sources and school settings. These referrals
span the entire list of neuropathological conditions such as dementia,
cerebrovascular disorders, tumor, HIV, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, Autism,
degenerative disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental disorders,
and traumatic brain injury.
Year 1:
- Major rotation
in adult or pediatric neuropsychology
- Medical Neuroanatomy
course with concurrent half-time major rotation over 3 months
- Twenty-four hours
of assessment per week are required. These will typically consist
of three outpatient evaluations and one inpatient evaluation per week
although this requirement will be reduced to 12 hours/week during
the 3 months of the Neuroanatomy course.
- Up to three psychotherapy
cases per week, which could involve cases from outpatient rehabilitation
including cognitive rehabilitation therapy
- 2 minor elective
rotations over the course of the year (see below)
- Submission of
a small study (e.g., archival or part of faculty members' research
program) or literature review for presentation and publication in
the first year. Outline of original research project, grant proposal
or outcome assessment written in first year and carried out in second
year. Presentation at national or international meeting is encouraged.
Year 2:
The composition
of this year will depend on the resident's clinical interests and career
trajectory. This additional year could be utilized for further clinical
subspecialization.
- One major rotation
- Two minor elective
rotations over the course of the year
- Conduct and complete
original research including paper submitted for publication
- Continue psychotherapy
patient caseload or devote more time to the neuropsychological consultation
service.
CLINICAL
Major Rotations:
Adult Neuropsychology Clinics (Outpatient and Inpatient)
Pediatric Neuropsychology Clinic (Outpatient and Inpatient)
Elective Rotations:
Rehabilitation Psychology (Outpatient)
Inpatient Neurology Bedside Rounds
Neuropsychiatry Consultation Rounds
Geriatric Memory and Behavior Disorder Clinic
EEG Clinic
Neuroradiology Clinic
Health Psychology Clinic
Neurosurgery Hydrocephalus Clinic
Neurogenetics Clinic
Center for Learning & Development
Autism Clinic
Pediatric Neurology Service
Behavior Problems Clinic
School-Based Mental Health Clinic
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Research is an important component of this residency, with residents
expected to devote a minimum of 20% of their time in order to take advantage
of the rich research opportunities provided within the educational and
research programs of the Department of Psychiatry. This can be accomplished
through a variety of means including archival studies and involvement
within current research protocols. Some of the research opportunities
are detailed below:
Cognitive
and Addiction Neuroscience
The program of Cognitive and Addiction Neuroscience is directed by Eileen
Martin, PhD, ABPP/CN and offers several research opportunities. The
program of ongoing research includes the study of the effects of HIV
and of drugs of abuse on brain function and cognition. Current NIH funded
projects include studies of working memory and other prefrontal-subcortical
functions in men and women with a history of heroin or crack use and
in individuals who misuse MDMA (Ecstasy) and other club drugs. Currently
the program is developing an fMRI component and preparing a third project
on hepatitis C and cognition.
Center
for Cognitive Medicine
The Center for Cognitive Medicine is directed by John Sweeney, PhD and
offers clinical research opportunities in its ongoing research programs
investigating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. The schizophrenia
and bipolar disorder program includes studies examining early detection
of risk, comparison of pharmacotherapies, and neurocognitive and brain
imaging studies. The focus of the autism program is to use neurocognitive
and neuroimaging parameters to delineate the nature of brain dysmaturation
in this disorder, and to develop endophenotypic markers to define patterns
of heterogeneity within families having an autistic proband. Additionally,
Diffusion Tensor Infusion (DTI) is being used with infants to identify
possible early myelination patterns or markers In Autsim. The Center
is programmatically linked to the UIC MR Center which currently has
a 3.0 T system and soon will have a 9.4 T scanner, both human whole
body systems for MRI, MRS and perfusion, diffusion and BOLD contrast
imaging. The Center has active collaborations with several Departments
across the University to facilitate patient access, scientific interaction
and methodological sophistication in image analysis.
Hormones and
Cognition
Pauline M Maki, Ph.D. leads a program of research into the effects of
hormone therapy on cognition and brain function, using both neuropsychological
and neuroimaging (fMRI, PET) outcomes. The primary focus is the effects
of estrogen therapy on age-related changes in cognitive abilities. Other
studies involve assessments of cognitive function across the menstrual
cycle, following hormone suppression, and following other hormone and
alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms.
Neuropsychological
Effects of Electrical Injury
This research program is devoted to clarifying the biologic mechanisms
that underlie neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric changes seen following
electrical injury. Clinical, psychiatric and neuropsychological data
have been collected on over 200 electrical injury. Residents are welcome
to engage in archival studies of this database or become involved in
the current clinical-research protocol.
Rehabilitation
Psychology Research Opportunities in Neuroplascitity
The relationships between various patient groups with disabilities and
changes in fMRI activation pattern and cognitive testing during recovery
is being systematically studied in Rehabilitation Psychology. Various
treatments for traumatic brain injury designed to promote recovery in
cognitive and emotional status including cognitive rehabilitation therapy,
drug therapy, and CPAP therapy (in patients with sleep apnea) are the
subjects of current studies. Ongoing studies focus on adults but preliminary
studies have begun with children who have traumatic brain injury.
Pediatrics and
Pediatric Neurology Research Opportunities
In collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics, a study regarding
the long term cognitive effects of neuroradiation as treatment for cancer
in children is currently being initiated. Specifically, changes in memory
and executive functioning in children who have received neuroradiation
five or more years prior to the study will be examined. Additionally,
a pilot study is currently underway to examine gray and white matter
changes in the brains of infants who have undergone corrective or palliative
surgery for congenital heart disease using MRI and neurodevelopmental
assessment over the first year of life.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Seminars:
Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar
Neurology Grand Rounds
Neuroradiology Rounds
Neuropathology/Brain Cutting
Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Neuroanatomy Review Series
Course:
Medical Neuroanatomy (January - March daily during Year 1)
TEACHING REQUIREMENTS
The resident will make regular teaching contributions to the weekly
Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar and facilitate the monthly Journal Club
and Neuroanatomy Review series. There will also be opportunities for
supervision of psychology interns or advanced externs.
SUPERVISION
The resident will meet weekly with the residency director and will also
meet regularly with a research supervisor and/or rotation supervisor.
There are also at least five hours of structured educational activities
per week.
RESIDENCY EXIT
CRITERIA:
- Formal evaluation
of competency at the end of the residency indicates advanced skill
in neuropsychological evaluation, treatment and consultation.
- Eligibility
for state licensure or certification for the independent practice
of psychology.
- Eligibility for
board certification in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board
of Professional Psychology.
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