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Objective: People with functional seizures (FS) have frequent and disabling cognitive dysfunction and mental health symptoms, with low quality of life. However, interrelationships among these constructs are poorly understood. In this meta-analysis, we examined associations between objective (i.e. performance-based) cognitive testing and self-reported (i) mental health, (ii) cognition, and (iii) quality of life in FS. Method : We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, with the final search on June 10, 2024. Inclusion criteria were studies documenting relationships between objective cognitive test scores and self-reported (i.e. subjective) mental health, cognition, and/or quality of life in adults with FS. Exclusion criteria were mixed FS/epilepsy samples. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale evaluated risk of bias. This project is registered as CRD42023392385 in PROSPERO. Results : Initially, 4,054 unique reports were identified, with the final sample including 24 articles of 1,173 people with FS. Mean age was 35.9 (SD = 3.9), mean education was 12.6 (SD = 1.3), and proportion of women was 73.9%. Risk of bias was moderate, due in part to inconsistent reporting of confounding demographic variables. Significant relationships were found between global objective cognition and global self-reported mental health ( k  = 21, Z = -0.23 [0.04], 95% CI = -0.30, -0.16), depression ( k  = 11, Z = -0.13 [0.05], 95% CI = -0.21, -0.04), cognition ( k  = 5, Z = -0.16 [0.05], 95% CI = -0.26, -0.06), and quality of life ( k  = 5, Z = -0.17 [0.05], 95% CI = -0.24, -0.10). Exploratory analyses showed associations between select cognitive and mental health constructs. Conclusions : Objective cognition is reliably associated with self-reported mental health, cognition, and quality of life in people with FS. Scientific and clinical implications are discussed.

Objective: To introduce New2Neuropsychology (N2N), an organization that seeks to increase recruitment of historically underrepresented minoritized (URM) students, and to examine preliminary data on N2N's impact and effectiveness in increasing knowledge about neuropsychology for URM students., Method: This paper reviews relevant literature on factors informing the development of N2N. We also present descriptive data on N2N's impact to date, and results of pre- and post- surveys for presentations about neuropsychology delivered to 90 college students (mean age = 24.23, 64.4% juniors or seniors) between November 2021 - March 2023., Results: N2N has reached >500 students in events across 27 schools and, with the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, disseminated $84,000 in scholarships to URM students. N2N presentation attendees reported increased understanding of neuropsychology and the training pathway ( p s < .001, Cohen's d s = 0.94 - 1.73) and increased confidence in their ability to become neuropsychologists (p < . 001, d  = 0.41). There were no overall pre-post differences for interest in pursuing a career in neuropsychology ( p > .05); however, a subset of students who reported low interest at baseline ( n =  57) reported a statistically significant increase in their interest post-presentation ( p < .01, d  = 0.36)., Conclusions: To date, N2N has progressed toward its goal, showing preliminary success increasing knowledge about neuropsychology for URM students. With continued development and support, N2N seeks to transform the pathway to neuropsychology for URM students, expanding accessibility of N2N resources across diverse groups and connecting URM students to neuropsychology research and clinical experiences.

Background: Cognition is a core component of functional seizures, but the literature on cognition in this disorder has been heterogeneous, with no clear unifying profile emerging from individual studies. The aim of this study was to do a systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive performance in adults with functional seizures compared with epilepsy (including left temporal lobe epilepsy) and compared with healthy non-seizure cohorts., Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, starting Feb 6, 2023, replicated and updated on Oct 31, 2023, a medical librarian searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were full reports documenting raw or standardised cognitive test data in adults with functional seizures compared with adults with epilepsy, prospectively recruited healthy comparisons, or published norms. Grey literature was retained and there were no language or date restrictions. We excluded studies only reporting on mixed functional seizures and epilepsy, or mixed functional neurological samples, with no pure functional seizures group. Risk of bias was evaluated using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. People with lived experiences were not involved in the design or execution of this study. This study is registered as CRD42023392385 in PROSPERO., Findings: Of 3834 records initially identified, 84 articles were retained, including 8654 participants (functional seizures 4193, epilepsy 3638, and healthy comparisons 823). Mean age was 36 years (SD 12) for functional seizures, 36 years (12) for epilepsy, and 34 years (10) for healthy comparisons, and the proportion of women per group was 72% (range 18-100) for functional seizures, 59% (range 15-100) for epilepsy, and 69% (range 34-100) for healthy comparisons. Data on race or ethnicity were rarely reported in the individual studies. Risk of bias was moderate. Cognitive performance was better in people with functional seizures than those with epilepsy (Hedges' g=0·17 [95% CI 0·10-0·25)], p<0·0001), with moderate-to-high heterogeneity (Q[56]=128·91, p=0·0001, I 2 =57%). The functional seizures group performed better than the epilepsy group on global cognition and intelligence quotient (g=0·15 [0·02-0·28], p=0·022) and language (g=0·28 [0·14-0·43], p=0·0001), but not other cognitive domains. A larger effect was noted in language tests when comparing functional seizures with left temporal lobe epilepsy (k=5; g=0·51 [0·10 to 0·91], p=0·015). The functional seizures group underperformed relative to healthy comparisons (g=-0·61 [-0·78 to -0·44], p<0·0001), with significant differences in all cognitive domains. Meta regressions examining effects of multiple covariates on global cognition were not significant., Interpretation: Patients with functional seizures have widespread cognitive impairments that are likely to be clinically meaningful on the basis of moderate effect sizes in multiple domains. These deficits might be slightly less severe than those seen in many patients with epilepsy but nevertheless argue for consideration of clinical assessment and treatment., Funding: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests RVP receives funding from VA Providence, RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology; engages in profit sharing with the International Neuropsychological Society for Continuing Education proceeds from the Navigating Neuropsychology podcast; receives royalties from publication of the book, Becoming a Neuropsychologist: Advice and Guidance for Students and Trainees (Springer, 2021); receives travel support from Brown University Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior; is a member of the advisory board for the New2Neuropsychology organisation; and the research reported or outlined here was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, VISN 1 Career Development Award to R Van Patten. TAA is supported by a Career Development Award (1IK2RX004764) from the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. EC receives grant funding from the Women's Board of Northwestern University, and is on the Medical Advisory Board for the Epilepsy Foundation of Chicago. JAB engages in profit sharing with the International Neuropsychological Society for Continuing Education proceeds from the Navigating Neuropsychology podcast; receives royalties from publication of the book, Becoming a Neuropsychologist: Advice and Guidance for Students and Trainees (Springer, 2021); and is a member of the Advisory Board for the New2Neuropsychology organisation. HA has received research funding from National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Epilepsy Research Program, The Epilepsy Consortium, Eisai, UCB, and Cerevel. SC is a co-investigator for the National Institute of Mental Health U01 MH 123427 study, “Low intensity focused ultrasound: A new paradigm for depression and anxiety”. EWT gratefully acknowledges the support of a VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Research Career Scientist Award. WCL has served on the editorial boards of Epilepsia, Epilepsy & Behavior, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, and Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences; receives funding from the DoD CDMRP Epilepsy Research Program (W81XWH-17-0169, PI), co-editor royalties for Gates and Rowan's Nonepileptic Seizures, and co-author royalties from Oxford University Press for Taking Control of Your Seizures: Workbook and for Treating Nonepileptic Seizures: Therapist Guide; serves on the Epilepsy Foundation New England Professional Advisory Board; received honoraria for the American Academy of Neurology Meeting Annual Course; served as a clinic development consultant at University of Colorado Denver, Cleveland Clinic, SpectrumHealth, Emory University, Oregon Health Sciences University, and Vanderbilt University; and provided medicolegal expert witness testimony. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: High quality and accessible education is crucial to secure the future of neuropsychology. Recent and ongoing advancements include the creation of a taxonomy of education and training, progress in delineating relevant competencies, and an update to the Houston Conference Guidelines. Meanwhile, there is also potential for growth in digital methods of delivering education such as podcasts, webinars, and social media platforms. This paper aims to review the evidence for these three methods and to provide recommendations for implementing them across the continuum of training in neuropsychology, from graduate school through postdoctoral fellowship and continuing education., Method: We reviewed the literature on podcasts, webinars, and social media platforms as educational tools that may be applied to improve learning of brain-behavior concepts and clinical skills. Specifically, we (a) introduce and describe each method, (b) discuss benefits and drawbacks, (c) review the literature on satisfaction and learning outcomes, and (d) provide suggestions for implementation in neuropsychology training programs., Results: Podcasts and webinars have strong evidence for satisfaction and moderate support for improving learning outcomes, with the learning outcome literature suggesting equivalency between podcasts/webinars and traditional methods of education. Social media platforms are associated with high satisfaction, but learning outcome data are scarce., Conclusions: Evidence for podcasts and webinars is sufficient to support implementation into neuropsychology education, whereas social media platforms should be used more cautiously. We provide recommendations of select instances in which trainees and educators can use these methods to improve education in neuropsychology., (Published by Oxford University Press 2022.)

Objectives: In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, neuropsychologists rapidly adopted teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) services to ensure continued clinical care. Prior to COVID-19, TeleNP was not widely used nor was it included in the majority of traditional practice or training models across graduate, internship, and postdoctoral programs. Out of necessity, the pandemic was a catalyst that promoted greater adoption of TeleNP services. In response, neuropsychological guidelines for modified assessments were developed and further empirical studies have been published. Numerous surveys in response to service delivery changes during COVID-19 now exist, but what follows is a commentary based on neuropsychologists' experiences with adapting clinical practice to TeleNP. Methods: Co-authors represent settings across academic medical centers, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and private practices that serve multiculturally diverse pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations in the United States. Results: The perspectives within this commentary aim to highlight the growth of TeleNP and highlight lessons learned from implementation across practice settings. Conclusions: Our goal is to help foster the development of further empirical studies through candid discussion of various TeleNP experiences and approaches. Through this reflective process, TeleNP presents both opportunities and challenges but it ultimately has potential to reduce healthcare disparities and enhance patient care.