Is clinical psychology the closest thing to neuropsychology in Ireland?

I'm fairly sure you can't do an undergraduate course on neuropsychology anywhere, not just not in Ireland. You would certainly touch on aspects of neuropsychology and the biological bases of behaviour in a psychology degree. You could then study neuropsychology as a postgraduate. Probably in Britain or further afield. I know there's a neuropharmacology postgraduate course in NUIG.

As far as I know, most people working in the field of neuropsychology would be doing research. I'm really not sure how many clinical neuropsychologists work in the HSE. Hopefully someone might.

As JC said. You have to somehow get on to a clinical course, during which it is possible usually to do an elective specialist placement in neuro-psychology. Most people interested in the area then do a postgraduate part-time course to further their training. The one I've heard everyone doing is based in London at weekends but I can't recall the details. Perhaps others will know.

I'm finishing my undergrad in Psychology in Trinity, and my final year project is neuropsychology-based, but I've never heard of a pure neuropsychology undergrad. A few guys in the lab did an M.SC in Neuroscience in Trinity and now they're working in Headway, the brain injury clinic.

Do you want to do research in neuropsychology, or work as a clinical neuropsychologist?

A neurologist is a medical doctor who specialises in the brain.

TrollHammaren wrote: »

I don't know about other neuroscience courses, but the one in Trinity is designed to follow up your science degree if you specialised in neuro in your latter two years, and to allow for neuroscience entry for psychology graduates. After that, there's no formal training in neuropsychology (that I know of), so you're essentially looking at doing research as a neuropsychologist. I'm also not entirely sure clinical psychologists practise neuropsychology in Ireland.

Perhaps some of the confusion is in the terminology and the use of the diminutive "neuro". It depends on whether "neuro" refers here to neuropsychology, neuroscience, or even to clinical neuropsychology.

Clinical Psychologists do practise neuropsychology in Ireland. They tend to have job titles like "clinical neuropsychologist". There are many such posts in hospitals such as Beaumont or the NRH and I know Temple St Hospital and the AMNCH (Tallaght) and Crumlin also have officially designated positions for clinical neuropsychologists.

On the other hand, there are many people who work mainly in Universities in Ireland who call themselves neuropsychologists. These people usually focus mainly on research. The confusion lies in the fact that Neuropsychology is a relatively recently recognised specialisation in Ireland. The PSI only established a neuropsychology division a year or two ago.

My understanding is that, grandparenting aside, anyone wishing to become a full practitioner member of the neuropsychology division must be a clinical psychologist and then must also have a neuropsychology qualification (or considerable neuropsychology experience in a work setting). This requirement is in line with the way the term "neuropsychologist" is used in other countries, with an emphasis on the clinician status of the practitioner.

One can also be a member of the Neuropsychology division of the PSI without being a clinical psychologist, but as far as I know, that would mean you cannot have full member status.

Doing a postgraduate degree in neuroscience might make one eligible to be a member of the neuropsychology division of PSI but it does not make one a neuropsychologist.

Of course, in the continued absence of any proper legislation re psychology titles in this country, all of the above may be a bit moot. In reality, anyone can call themselves by any title they want to, irrespective of training and/or experience. :eek: