Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society

Thursday, January 24, 2008: Monthly Meeting

5:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Social Hour
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Invited Talk
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Board Meeting

Pseudo-Neurologic Syndromes: Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures & Functional Movement Disorders, Clinical and Theoretical Considerations"
David S. Glosser, Sc.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Jefferson Medical College, Department of Neurology/Section of Neuropsychology and Neurobehavioral Psychology, Jefferson Hospital for Neurosciences

Learning Objectives:
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) are documented in approximately 30% of patients admitted to tertiary care epilepsy monitoring units, and Functional Movement Disorders (FMD) account for a like number of cases examined at specialized movement disorders centers; such as the NIH. The disorders are economically costly and severely disabling to patients. While diagnostic standards have been established, there has been no clear consensus regarding their classification, etiology, or treatment. Prognosis, once the disorders have been present for > 12 months is dismal. Accordingly, the need for early diagnosis is critical.

This lecture aims to provide a basic introduction to the neurogenic conditions which PNES and FMD are often mistaken for and clinical guidelines for differential diagnosis. Video examples of both neurogenic and psychogenic disorders will be presented. Specific cognitive, behavioral, and historical risk factors will be described, and data regarding the predictive value of the risk factor diagnostic model will be presented.

A theoretical framework for understanding the origin and maintenance of PNES and FMDs as abnormal illness behaviors, as opposed to distinct psychiatric disorder, will be offered. These syndromes present a wonderful opportunity to study, in near laboratory conditions, what have been classically described as conversion or somatoform disorders and may have general relevance to the notion of somatization in humans (and other primates)

Location: The meeting will be held on the campus of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) in University City in room 237 of the McNeil Science and Technology Center (STC). The USP campus is on Woodland Avenue, three blocks west of the campus of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelpha VA Medical Center. Directions and a campus map are available below.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008: Monthly Meeting
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Social Hour
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Invited Talk
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Board Meeting
Neuroimaging with Clinical Groups
Frank Hillary, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
Learning Objectives:
The purpose of this talk is to review the conceptual and methodological issues that confront investigators who use functional MRI (fMRI) to examine neurological disorders. Research over the past decade using fMRI to examine neuropsychological dysfunction has proven informative, documenting basic differences between the healthy and the injured brain. However, for the potential of fMRI to be realized, important advancements are needed in the methods being used to assess cognitive, motor, and sensory dysfunction. Several points will be made in this presentation, including 1) the need for direct examination of the relationship between behavioral performance and fMRI signal change, 2) dismantling the assumptions associated with cognitive subtraction and 3) the potential of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for associating white matter structural changes with cognitive performance and fMRI (BOLD) signal

Location: The meeting will be held on the campus of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) in University City in room 237 of the McNeil Science and Technology Center (STC). The USP campus is on Woodland Avenue, three blocks west of the campus of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelpha VA Medical Center. Directions and a campus map are available below.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008: Monthly Meeting
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Social Hour
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Invited Talk
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Board Meeting
Neuropsychology Grand Rounds: Clinical Case Presentation & Discussion
Roy Hamilton, M.D., M.S.
Instructor in Cognitive Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
H. Branch Coslett, M.D.
Professor of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Learning Objectives:
Neuropsychology Grand Rounds have been presented by PNS since 2003 with the goal of educating graduate students and clinicians about neurologic and psychiatric conditions that are often the focus of referral for neuropsychological services. We especially encourage our practicing clinicians and our students to attend!
In this grand rounds presentation, we will review the classic neurologic and neurocognitive symptoms associated with a common neurologic problem. Our presentation will highlight possible relationships between the disease processes, neuropsychological, and neuroanatomical findings in a way that sheds new light on our understanding of brain-behavior relationships. We will also consider how the findings of a recent investigation of the condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania are informing diagnostic decision-making and treatment planning.
Attendees will be able to describe the typical presenting symptoms of a classic neurologic condition and some of the reasons why the "typical" pattern of symptoms may or may not be present. Attendees will be able to describe the relationship between the disease process and cognitive and neurologic symptoms as well as patterns of change with treatment. Attendees will recognize the relationship between the disease process of interest and comorbid conditions that may not be the immediate focus of clinical evaluation.
Location: The meeting will be held on the campus of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) in University City in room 237 of the McNeil Science and Technology Center (STC). The USP campus is on Woodland Avenue, three blocks west of the campus of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelpha VA Medical Center. Directions and a campus map are available below.

Saturday, April 26, 2008: 22nd Annual Spring Colloquium
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: Putting Theory into Practice
Key Note Lecture: Efficacy of Cognitive Rehabilitation,
Keith D. Cicerone, Ph.D., ABBP-Cn, JFK-Johnson Rehabilitation Insitute
Building and Testing Theories for Experience Based Interventions,
Tessa Hart, Ph.D., Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
Psychopharmacological Approaches to Disorders of Attention,
John Whyte, MD, Ph.D., Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
Learning Objectives:
To be posted.
Location: The 22nd Annual Spring Colloquium will be held in Rosenberger Hall on the campus of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) in University City. The USP campus is on Woodland Avenue, three blocks west of the campus of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelpha VA Medical Center. Directions and a campus map are available below.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008: Monthly Meeting
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Social Hour
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Invited Talk
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Board Meeting
Student Award Winner
TBA

Continuing education credit for psychologists can be earned for attending our monthly programs and completing post-workshop forms. The Philadelphia Neuropsychology Society (PNS) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PNS maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.
We hope to see you at upcoming PNS events. Please do not hesitate to email us at info@pns-pa.org with any questions.

Directions to the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia: Monthly meetings will be held (except where otherwise noted) in room 237 of the Science and Technology Center on the campus of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) in University City. The USP campus is on Woodland Avenue, three blocks west of the campus of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelpha VA Medical Center. The Science and Technology Center (number 19 on the campus map) is at the corner of 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue. Free parking is available in the large lot directly in front of the building. Access the parking lot by turning left onto 42nd Street (traveling west on Woodland Avenue), proceeding around the campus library and dormitory builiding, and turn right into the lot. There is also a SEPTA trolley stop (the number 11 or 36 lines) directly across from the building at the corner of 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue. Directions and a campus map are available through this link