Neuropsychiatry vs Neuropsychology?

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MysteryDiagnosis

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What exactly are the difference between the two fields except for the fact that neuropsychiatrists are allowed to prescribe and neuropsychologists are not (except in a few states).
Are Neuropsychiatrists and behavioral neurologists trained and able to do neuropsychological testing as well? If so, then what 's the purpose of a neuropsychologists?

I saw this on the psychiatry/ neurology boards website:
II. Neuropsychiatric Assessment
...

C. Neuropsychological Assessment
1. The content, sensitivity, and specificity of neuropsychological testing, including:
a. Fixed assessment batteries.
b. Flexible batteries.
c. Projective testing.
d. Personality assessment tools.

2. The influence of age, education, cultural background, fatigue, drugs, sensory impairment, and primary psychiatric illnesses on test performance.
3. The role of and indications for neuropsychological testing in the evaluation and treatment planning related to neurobehavioral and neuropsychiatric disorders.
4. The relationship between neuropsychological test results and bedside or office-based screening mental status examinations.
5. The anatomic and disease correlates of neuropsychological test abnormalities.

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In general, a neuropsychologist primarily evaluates and may make recommendations. It's very lengthy and in depth. Neuropsychiatry doesn't really exist to any great degree out in the real world as most of this work is handled by general psychiatrists or general neurologists or both, but it would be more treatment/management focused than evaluation focused, in general.

Neuropsychiatrists and behavioral neurologists will have more familiarity with testing than the average psychiatrist/neurologist but that isn't their primary background and not what they do.
 
In general, a neuropsychologist primarily evaluates and may make recommendations. It's very lengthy and in depth. Neuropsychiatry doesn't really exist to any great degree out in the real world as most of this work is handled by general psychiatrists or general neurologists or both, but it would be more treatment/management focused than evaluation focused, in general.

Neuropsychiatrists and behavioral neurologists will have more familiarity with testing but that isn't their primary background and not what they actually do, so they're not exactly making neuropsychologists irrelevant.

Oh ok, so they might be familiar with what batteries for instance might be used in select cases, but wouldn't be the ones administering and interpreting them? Just like how a neuropsychologist may be familiar with what psychiatrist drugs a patient should take but isn't the one managin the meds?

So is behavioral neurology/ neuropsychiatry not a recognized subspecialty?
 
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C. Neuropsychological Assessment
1. The content, sensitivity, and specificity of neuropsychological testing, including:
...
c. Projective testing.

One difference is that neuropsychologists don't administer projective tests. ;)

A well-trained college graduate can administer most test batteries. What is unique is the neuropsychologist's ability to select, interpret, and integrate test results, which requires years of training under supervision and expertise in how these tests are developed, validated, and normed. I have yet to meet a physician who yearns to master those skills when they could be practicing medicine instead.

As splik mentioned, neuropsychologists can also be involved in designing or delivering interventions, although for most the focus is likely to be assessment.
 
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Neuropsychology is a specialty within clinical psychology that has it's own board certification process. I don't think neuropsychiatry has that. Be wary of those who put the word neuro in front of things for marketing or false prestige purposes.
 
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Neuropsychology is a specialty within clinical psychology that has it's own board certification process. I don't think neuropsychiatry has that. Be wary of those who put the word neuro in front of things for marketing or false prestige purposes.

Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry have the same accreditation under the ABPN, but I agree that the latter, like every other "subspecialty" in psychiatry besides child and forensics falls under "false prestige"
 
Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry have the same accreditation under the ABPN, but I agree that the latter, like every other "subspecialty" in psychiatry besides child and forensics falls under "false prestige"

Why is this? All of the other subspecialties are not officially recognized in psychiatry?
 
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