The American College of Professional Neuropsychology
Annual Conference in San Diego
April 17 to 19, 2009
BAHAI Resort Hotel
998 West Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA 92109   (858) 488-0551
Call 800-576-4229 for special room rate reservations for the ACPN Conference
 

(Links to the conference brochure and registration materials are below.)

FRIDAY April 17, 2009
8:30 to 11:30
Course A.  2007-2008 Psychopharmacology update
Presenter:  John Courtney, Psy.D., MP, ABN
Description:  This workshop will cover new neuropsychotropic medications introduced since 2007. This discussion will cover basic pharmacodynamics and kinetics, on and off label uses, information regarding drug interaction effects, side effects impacting behavior (and testing outcome) and a quick review of drugs in the current research pipeline.
Goals and Objectives:  Participants will be able to identify the:
1.      Strengths and weaknesses of differing administration routes;
2.      Typical means by which psychotropics cause changes in humans;
3.      Common side effects that may risk the health of their patients;
4.      New medications and indications since 2007; and
5.      Off label uses of certain medications and interaction effects
6.      
Course B.  Ethical, Professional and Scientific Issues to Consider in Adopting Revised/Updated Psychological/ Neuropsychologic al Tests
Presenter:  Robert McCaffrey, PhD., ABN, ABPdN
Description:  This workshop will review the history of test security, the role of psychology's ethical principles and the daily challenges and pragmatics of test security in the 21st century.  In addition, the workshop will focus on the "blind" adoption of new versions of tests with special consideration to the potential professional pitfalls and ethical issues inherent in the "blind" adoption mindset. Some clinical guidelines will be reviewed for those considering adoption of newer assessment instruments.  Finally, the role of the test publishing community in a proposed model of test security will be presented.
Goals and Objectives:  Participants will be able to identify:
1.       Test Security in the New Millennium:  Who, What, When, Where and Why?
2.      Non-psychologists access to psychological and neuropsychological test:  Profit vs. Protection?
3.      To adopt or not adopt the revised/updated test—that is the question?
4.      Making the switch to the revised/updated:  Why and When?
 
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 pm.  LUNCH
 
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Course C.  Neuropsychological Assessment and Sports:  New Clinical Opportunities
Presenter:  Mark Lovell, Ph.D., ABN
Description:  This workshop will provide the attendee with the skills necessary to begin to conduct neuropsychological assessment of athletes who experience sports-related concussions.  The workshop will review current thinking regarding the pathophysiology of concussion and mild traumatic brain injury and traditional and computer-based assessment tools.  Finally, the role of the neuropsychologist within the context of sports will be discussed and current billing strategies will be reviewed.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.       Understand the pathophysiology of sports-related brain injury as it relates to neuropsychological assessment;
2.      Understand current computer-based and non-computer based assessment tools with regard to their application to sports-related injury;
3.      Implement new neuropsychological assessment instruments within a private practice, hospital or research setting; and
4.      Discuss practice building strategies for neuropsychologists who utilize neuropsychological assessment tools with schools and sports organizers.
 
Course D.  Development and Application of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) and the Comprehensive Trailmaking Test (CTMT)
Presenter:  Cecil R. Reynolds, Ph.D., ABN
Description:  This workshop provides an overview and introduction to the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS; Reynolds and Kamphaus, 203) and the Comprehensive Trail-making Test (CTMT; Reynolds, 2000) including their conceptualization, development, and interpretation.  A critique of the widely publicized failure of profile analysis of IQ tests is provided and reasons for this failure discussed.  The design of the RIAS and its development are then reviewed.  Administration and scoring of the RIAS is taught followed by presentation of guidelines for interpretation. The importance of assessment of complex memory functions in intellectual assessment is reviewed. The Comprehensive Trail Making Test (CTMT) will be reviewed in comparable detail as well as common objectives.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.       Understand the concept of g and its relationship to profile analysis of IQ subscales;
2.      Define the constructs assessed by the RIAS and the CTMT;
3.      Describe the RIAS and the CTMT development, standardization, and scaling processes;
4.      Administer and score the RIAS and the CTMT accurately;
5.      Interpret the CTMT scores; and
6.      Understand the importance of complex memory as a component of intellectual assessment and prediction of academic achievement
 
4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Poster Session and Cocktails
Theodore H. Blau Scholarship Auction
 
 
SATURDAY – April 18, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Course E.  Assessing and Enhancing Neurobehavioral Outcomes Among Incarcerated Youth
Presenter:  Tony Strickland, Ph.D., ABN
Description:
This presentation will review evolving findings regarding the neurobehavioral functioning of detained adolescents. A sample of 660 youth was evaluated. Arrest and incarceration of youthful offenders has a dramatic and adverse impact on society.  A disproportionate number of individuals who are arrested are youth offenders with co-occurring neurobehavioral disorders. These youth are typically housed in city or county detention facilities, returned to their respective communities on average in 30 days, and are:  1) individuals with mental illnesses; 2) Individuals who are addicted to alcohol and/or illicit drugs; and/or 3) Youth with undiagnosed neurological problems. The criminal justice system in most communities continues to compound injustices to this group of offenders by not addressing their unique needs and challenges. By not providing the necessary services to evaluate, diagnose, and treat these youths, perpetuates the systemic problems observed in this population with no discernable improvement.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.       Identify neuropsychological assessment and diagnostic strategies that best characterize this population;
2.      Understand treatment issues and strategies that are relevant to the various neurobehavioral profile of youth presenting for services and to their cultural milieu; and
3.      Understand engagement strategies necessary to reduce recidivism of youth through the provision of these specialized services in community services.
 
Course F.  An Updated Primer for Neuropsychologists on the Admission of Clinical and Forensic Evidence
Presenter:  Larry Cohen, J.D., Ph.D.
Private Practice – Phoenix, Arizona
Description:  This workshop will bring current the state of the law nationally on the admissibility of neuropsychological opinion testimony in civil, criminal and probate litigation. The program will focus practically on how clinical and forensic witnesses can maximize the admissibility and effectiveness of their testimony in motion practice and on direct examination and prepare for and deal with cross examination.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.       Understand the evidentiary principles bearing on the admission of neuropsychological evidence in legal proceedings;
2.      Describe the current state of the law on the admission of neuropsychological evidence in legal proceedings; and
3.      Discuss methods for responding to challenges to the admissibility of neuropsychological evidence in legal proceedings
 
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch Break
Presentation by Tom McLaren, Ph.D., ABN
Re:  ABN Diplomate process
 
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Course G. Assessment of Executive Functioning with the Test of Verbal Conceptualization and Fluency (TVCF) and the Comprehensive Trail Making Test (CTMT)
Presenter:  Cecil R. Reynolds, Ph.D., ABN and
                  Mac Horton, Ed.D., ABPP, ABN
Description:  This workshop provides an overview and introduction to the TVCF (Reynolds & Horton, 2006) and the CTMT (Reynolds, 2000) including their conceptualization, development and interpretation. The TVCF was developed based on the Reynolds-Horton model of executive functioning, which postulates a strong general factor of executive functioning as well as neurocognitive subcomponents of selected aspects of executive functioning which are discrete and robust. The TVCF is a standardized set of 4 subtests with a total administration time o f25-30 minutes in normally functioning individuals. The TVCF was standardized for use with individuals ranging in age from 8 years through 89 years.  Standardized or scaled scores are provided in the form of linear T-scores, having a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10, along with their accompanying percentile ranks.  The 4 subtests of the TVCF are as follows:
1.       Category Fluency is a measure of word retrieval
2.      Classification is a measure of set-shifting and rule induction that is designed as a verbal based analog to the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
3.      Letter Naming is a measure of word retrieval
4.      Trails C is a variation of several "trailmaking" tasks.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.      Define the constructs assessed by the TVCF and the CTMT;
2.      Describe the TVCF and the CTMT development, standardization and scaling processes
3.      Administer and score the TVCF and CTMT accurately; and
4.      Interpret TVCF and CTMT scores
 
Course H.  Interpreting Neuropsychological Patterns:  Looking at something other than scores.
Presenter:  John E. Meyers, Psy.D., ABN, ABPdN
Description:  This workshop will focus on neuropsychological interpretation based on patterns of test performance using the Meyers Neuropsychological Battery. We will compare diagnostic groups to look at similarities and differences and will use case studies to discuss interpretation strategies based on the profile interpretation which provides for comparison over time and across injury groups.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.       Identify the difference between an individual test score based interpretation versus a profile/domain profile based interpretation
2.      Differentiate various pathologies by cognitive domain profiles; and
3.      Develop criterion based outcome predictions based on profile interpretations.
 
4:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Poster Session and Cocktails
Membership Meeting
 
 
SUNDAY – April 19, 2009
7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (Breakfast provided)
Course I.  Bottom-Line Ethics for Neuropsychologists
Presenter:  Shane S. Bush, Ph.D., ABPP, ABN
Description:  Ethical decision making in neuropsychology is often a challenging endeavor, without obvious and universally agreed upon solutions.  Despite complex and ambiguous professional and ethical challenges, clinicians must often make unambiguous decisions about how to handle such challenges. Although numerous resources and decision-making models exist to help clinicians make sound ethical decisions, busy clinicians often appreciate "bottom-line" answers. This workshop will present bottom-line solutions for ethical challenges commonly encountered by clinical neuropsychologists. The nature of the workshop and the proposed solutions are intended to be provocative in order to stimulate questions from, and interaction among, workshop participants.
Goals and Objectives.  Participants will be able to:
1.      Identify ethical challenges in neuropsychological practice;
2.      Determine and describe bottom-line solutions to ethical challenges; and
3.      Describe advantages and disadvantages of adopting a bottom-line approach to ethical decision making.
 
Continuing Education:  Each of the courses A-I will be offered for three (3) continuing education (CE) credits. No partial credit will be issued wince each participant will be required to attend each Course selected to earn any CE. The American College of Professional Neuropsychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The American College of Professional Neuropsychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
 
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES
(No additional fees for courses that include meals)
 
ABN Members or ACPN affiliates      $150.00_____
Non-ABN or non-ACPN affiliates       $175.00_____
Student                                              $  75.00_____
 
Registration form and checks should be sent to:
 
Alice Ruzicka, Ph.D., ABN
19040 Cox Avenue, Suite 5     Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 255-6872     alice.ruzicka@ gmail.com
 
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The American College of Professional Neuropsychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 

The American College of Professional Neuropsychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACPN Conference Brochure Front (PDF)
ACPN Conference Brochure Back (PDF)