[Ethics and neuropsychological assessment]

Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2012 Dec;10(4):445-52. doi: 10.1684/pnv.2012.0372.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Ethics and its relation to testing are historically an important question and still are. In this article, we briefly report on how neuropsychology emerged as a specific field, how tests are developed and we particularly focus on the ethical conditions under which a test can be administered. The point of view of the neuropsychologist who develops a new test, of the neuropsychologist who uses this test, of the person requiring a neuropsychological assessment, and finally of the subject, are respectively taken. In each case, different ethical questions are raised. Illustrations and examples are provided. A misunderstanding of what a test really is (a given and precise experimental situation) leads to many difficulties. Furthermore, many fail to know that neuropsychological assessment requires specific skills and clinical practice. A test is not related to truth or to a verdict; it only allows classifying a performance with regard to a given norm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Clinical Competence
  • Comprehension
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ethics, Medical*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests* / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Education as Topic / ethics
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results