Introduction to Assessing Change in the Individual Patient

Repeated neuropsychological assessments are frequently used in clinical practice to track progression of an illness or chart response to an intervention. However, the interpretation of repeated cognitive test scores can be tricky, and there is limited guidance on this topic. This webinar will introduce attendees to basic concepts associated with change, including test variables (e.g., reliability, practice effects), testing situation variables (e.g., retest interval), and individual variables (e.g., demographics, clinical conditions). Participants will also be introduced to common methods of assessing change (e.g., alternate forms, reliable change index, regression-based change formulae). Case examples will be used to guide the presentation.

1. Describe the role that test variables, testing situation variables and individual variables have on assessing cognitive change.
2. List Common methods for assessing change in patients. 
3. Compute and apply basic mathematical formulae for assessing cognitive change.

Target Audience:  Practicing clinical and research neuropsychologists of all levels, including students and trainees, who are interested in better evaluating cognitive change in their patients or as part of research protocols.

Instructional Level: Introductory