Measures of outcome for trials and other studies

[Mij]

Studies I've read suggest that while the brain uses a great deal of energy (about 20% of the total energy used in the human body), whether you are thinking hard or vegging out doesn't affect the energy demands.

Can you provide them?

 

[Eeyore]

I can't off the top of my head - but I will see what I can dig up. It was something I looked into many years ago.

Some quick googling suggests there may be a very tiny increase, but that even in a resting state, inhibitory neurons are firing, so energy use is similar.

That might have implications for ME - if there is excitatory neurotoxicity then perhaps the brain IS actually using more energy? The answer in normals and ME patients could, conceivably, be different (but that doesn't mean it is!)

 

[SWNative]

Have a Neuropsych Assessment scheduled for late this month and have no idea what to expect. MRI shows normal so this is the next step. Hard for me to know whether this is a "fishing expedition" for some type of early-onset dementia as opposed to confirmation of a ME dx (which some Neuropsychologists may doubt exists). How often is a dx made as a result of this testing? Appreciate any insight. Thanks!

 

[ukxmrv]

Have a Neuropsych Assessment scheduled for late this month and have no idea what to expect. MRI shows normal so this is the next step. Hard for me to know whether this is a "fishing expedition" for some type of early-onset dementia as opposed to confirmation of a ME dx (which some Neuropsychologists may doubt exists). How often is a dx made as a result of this testing? Appreciate any insight. Thanks!

It depends on the interpretation of the test and why you are being sent there. It's a test that can show if the doctor is a friend or foe in what they do with the results.

I've had three (due to a brain injury after a road traffic accident) and the test results were spun depending on the assessors attitude and who was paying their bill.

 

[SWNative]

It depends on the interpretation of the test and why you are being sent there. It's a test that can show if the doctor is a friend or foe in what they do with the results.

I've had three (due to a brain injury after a road traffic accident) and the test results were spun depending on the assessors attitude and who was paying their bill.

Thanks for the response. This is an independent assessment so I'm hoping will be objective...

 

[Snowdrop]

Good question as to what to expect from a NPsy. So I googled.
I found this link that discusses the specialty:

http://www.pni.org/neuropsychiatry/

My guess is that you might be better off with an ordinary neurologist. One recommended by a Dr you trust.
But let us know how it goes.

 

[barbc56]

It depends on the interpretation of the test and why you are being sent there. It's a test that can show if the doctor is a friend or foe in what they do with the results.

I've had three (due to a brain injury after a road traffic accident) and the test results were spun depending on the assessors attitude and who was paying their bill.

So sorry to hear that! What an awful thing to happen.

I can relate to this even though I have no idea of your circumstances. My cousin was a paramedic. He and his partner were getting a patient stabilized before getting her into the ambulance when they were hit by a car.The driver was rubber necking. His partner, the patient and the driver of the car all died. My cousin lived but has a closed head injury as well as major health problems. Such a tragedy.

But back to the subject at hand.

During my former life, I frequently worked with school psychologists. It was interesting, sometimes quite frustrating, how the way infomation was presented, as well as which parts of the tests were prioritized by the psychologist , impacted parents, students as well as the team working on an individual educational plan. Actually, now that I think of it, these same prejudices existed for all the team members. You can’t always control for the human factor.

This seemed to be more prevalent among younger psychologists/team members who had not learned to adapt their manner of presentation to the situation. This doesn't mean actually changing the results. But it wasn't just the younger members as some just never aquired the skill. Add to that the bureaucratic hoops, number of patients being seen and other factors that can't be controlled and you ended up with information that was more subjective than one would think.

Overall, most of the students were helped, but interesting how other factors come into play.

Best to you.

Barb

 

[barbc56]

@Snowdrop

That's a very interesting article. I didn't know the extent of this speciality. Ive bookmarked the article. Thanks!

I just wish the name behavioral neurology, would drop as a lot of other areas are also addressed.

Grrrr!

Barb

 

[Snowdrop]

@barbc56
Glad you found it interesting. I have an appointment coming up with a Neurologist and so was primed to wonder at the difference.

I'd have to go back and find it but I remember reading that SW moaned about the fact that in the UK you cannot be a Neuropsychiatrist you have to specialise in one or the other. He sounded frustrated as though if he could acquire the neurology degree all would be justified.

Personally, I would wish that neurology and Psychiatry would stay well away from one another. Psychiatry has boundary issues.

 

[barbc56]

@Snowdrop

Yeah, I agree. Maybe as a team member would be okay.

 

[SWNative]

Good question as to what to expect from a NPsy. So I googled.
I found this link that discusses the specialty:

http://www.pni.org/neuropsychiatry/

My guess is that you might be better off with an ordinary neurologist. One recommended by a Dr you trust.
But let us know how it goes.

Great link - thanks! My Neurologist referred me for the Neuropsych Assessment and, to be quite honest, I'm not sure whether I'll be seeing a Neuropsychiatrist or Neuropsychologist (boy were those a handful to type!).