ABOUT ANPA

The American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA) is a non-profit organization of professionals in behavioral neurology, neuropsychiatry, neuropsychology, and the clinical neurosciences. Established in 1988, ANPA has grown to over 500 members from around the world. ANPA's mission is to improve the lives of people with disorders at the interface of psychiatry and neurology.

WHAT IS NEUROPSYCHIATRY?

A scientific field

When used to refer to a scientific field, neuropsychiatry is the integrated study of psychiatric and neurologic disorders. This definition of neuropsychiatry does not connote a particular type of educational background or professional training; instead, it refers broadly and inclusively of the work performed any basic or clinical scientist, educator, clinician, public policy maker, or other individual that seeks to advance our understanding of the neurological bases of psychiatric disorders, the psychiatric manifestations of neurological disorders, and/or the evaluation and care of persons with neurologically based behavioral disturbances. In other words, one’s work can be neuropsychiatric regardless of whether one is trained as a neuropsychiatrist.

A medical subspecialty

When used to refer to a medical subspecialty, neuropsychiatry is one of the two historically separate but parallel clinical disciplines that comprise the medical subspecialty known currently as Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry. While the knowledge base and clinical skills of behavioral neurologists and neuropsychiatrists are built upon on the foundation established by primary training in one or both of these specialties, expertise and clinical competence in Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry requires experience specific to the evaluation, differential diagnosis, prognosis, pharmacological treatment, psychosocial management, and neurorehabilitation of persons with complex neuropsychiatric and neurobehavioral conditions.