Personality Assessment in Neuro-psychology?
I recently attended an insightful College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (Vic, Australia) seminar on the role of personality in neuropsychology. It sparked important reflections on why personality assessment can complement cognitive evaluations—particularly in medicolegal contexts.
Traditionally, neuropsychologists have focused on cognitive assessments, often due to time constraints or the historical separation between neuropsychology and personality assessment in practice and research. However, incorporating both assessments can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a client’s presentation.
Here are some key reasons to consider including personality assessment alongside cognitive evaluation:
Differentiating Cognitive Impairment from Psychological Factors: Personality assessments can help clarify whether cognitive complaints (e.g., memory, attention) are more likely due to psychological factors, such as anxiety or depression, rather than brain injury.
Evaluating Emotional and Behavioural Adjustment: For clients managing conditions like TBI or chronic pain, personality assessments shed light on coping mechanisms, resilience, and emotional responses, which can contribute to a more accurate understanding of functional limitations.
Pre-existing vs. Injury-Related Factors: Personality data can help distinguish longstanding traits (e.g., impulsivity, irritability) from changes attributable to an injury, shaping compensation and treatment decisions.
Assessing Symptom Consistency: Tools like the MMPI-3 or PAI, which include validity scales, provide objective data on symptom consistency. This complements effort testing in medicolegal assessments.
Understanding Broader Functional Impacts: Personality traits, such as social withdrawal or hostility, can affect relationships, work capacity, and overall functioning—important considerations in personal injury cases.
In medicolegal neuropsychology, the inclusion of personality assessment leads to more nuanced evaluations, especially when cognitive symptoms overlap with emotional or behavioural factors.