NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE EVALUATION

Neuropsychological assessment in the surgical management of the epilep sies includes comprehensive neuropsychological examination for baselin e, diagnostic, and follow up purposes, and specialized diagnostic proc edures. The developmental competence of the individual provides an org anizing principle for psychological work and is reflected in the neuro surgical strategy. Adaptive functioning and psychosocial adjustment ar e as important in determining outcome as performance on neuropsycholog ical tasks. The techniques and tools of neuropsychological assessment are discussed in this article; presurgical functioning and post-surgic al status and management affect outcome.