Neurobehavioral Toxicology: Neurological and Neuropsychological Perspectives, Volume III

Central Nervous System

Stanley Berent, James W. Albers

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2010
• ISBN:
  9781136874376
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: History & Theory in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

This is the final volume in a three-volume work that has addressed the scientific methodologies relevant to clinical neurobehavioral toxicology. Volume I focused on basic concepts and methodologies in Neurobehavioral Toxicology, with Volume II focusing on the peripheral nervous system. Volume III attends to what is known about industrial and environmental chemicals, medicines, and substances of abuse and how these agents affect the central nervous system. All substances have the capacity to be toxic, depending on factors that include the physical properties of the chemical or compound, organism related variables, or interaction between the two. These substances on the other hand and as a result of these same factors might be used therapeutically or even recreationally. The difference between medicine, recreational drug, or poison depends often on a careful balance between adverse and intended effects. How to determine that a specified substance has caused harm is emphasized in the present volume by way of case examples and discussion. Illnesses and behavioral variations that compete with toxicant-induced explanations for findings in a given case, as well as the various controversies that can arise around issues of diagnosis and causal determination, are treated comprehensively in this volume.

Contents of Volume I

1 INTRODUCTION TO NEUROBEHAVIORAL TOXICOLOGY

Introduction

Some conceptual considerations

Neurotransmission

Neurotransmission and disease

Neurotoxicity

Common clinical neurobehavioral toxicology issues

Case presentations

Patient with progressive dementia

Patient with depression and suspected dementia

Importance of context with regard to toxic exposure

Exposure to a neurotoxicant in the context of a terrorist act

Comments

2 CLASSIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF TOXICANT-RELATED INFORMATION

Introduction

Assessment and management of risk

Classification

Conclusion

3 CLINICAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH CONSIDERATIONS

Introduction

Scientific method

Definition of the problem to be addressed

Hypothesis

Experiment

Analysis

Conclusions based on the scientific method

Special research considerations

Animal models

Additional issues related to sample selection

Protection of subjects and research

Bias

Masking and placebo controls

Evaluation of research claims regarding causality

Conclusion

4 CLINICAL APPROACHES

Introduction

Clinical neurology and clinical neuropsychology

The referral model

Managing the professional interaction

The clinical process

Some commonalities across fields

The need for objectivity

The need for an evidence-based approach to the clinical process

Some general clinical attribute...

Table of contents

• Studies on Neuropsychology, Neurology and Cognition
• Contents
• Contents of Volume I
• Contents of Volume II
• About the Primary Authors
• Guest Contributors
• Acknowledgments
• Disclosures
• From the Series Editor
• Authors’ Preface to Volume III
• 15 Industrial and environmental agents
• 16 Medications and substances of abuse
• 17 Conditions associated with or sometimes mimic toxic-induced central nervous system disease
• 18 Consequences of an incomplete differential diagnosis
• 19 Issues and controversies involving the central nervous system evaluation
• Appendix
• Index