The use of neuropsychological assessment in the diagnosis of cerebral lesions

Englishs: Certain authors emphasise that, as neuro-imaging techniques seem to be significantly superior, psychological assessment techniques have no place in neurological assessment, and that the reliability and validity of these techniques, regarding the presence and localisation of cerebral damage, are questionable. The purpose of the study was to determine the relative effectiveness of neuropsychological assessment in the diagnosis and localisation of cerebral lesions, compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An availability sample of patients was taken from patients whom neurologists and neurosurgeons had seen and who had either a normal MRI or a MRI with localised lesions. They were then assessed by means of the South African Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Folstein's Mini Mental State Examination, the Bender Gestalt Test, and the Grassi Block Substitution Test. The test results were interpreted blindly. The findings are discussed, shortcomings of the study mentioned and recommendations made. Neuropsychology; neuro-imaging; cerebral lesions; diagnosis; presence; lesion localization; South African Wechsler Intelligence Scale; Folstein's Mini Mental State Examination; Bender Gestalt Test; Grassi Block Substitution Test