Neuropsychological diagnostics in childhood and adolescence

Among a number of issues and disorder pictures neuropsychological diagnosti cs should occupy a solid position, both in the initial assessment, as well as in that of the course. With an eye towards its use in child and adolesce nt psychiatry, a descriptive definition of this area of psychological diagn ostics must be provided. In SO doing, several essentially different approac hes arise, whose effects on psychometrics and interpretation must be examin ed. Regardless of the fact that the current availability of standardized ne uropsychological diagnostics is satisfactory only in certain areas, the met hods used in clinical parctice and/or research presented, In addition to th e individual test batteries, individual test methods for the areas Of visua l and auditory memory functions. attention functions, functions associated with speech, and executive functions are discussed. The current status of n europsychological diagnostics generates essential tasks towards its further development. This is true with regard to goals attainable in the short ter m, such as adaptation or standardization of available instruments, as well as for long-term research tasks.