Neuropsychiatry


Neuropsychiatry is a branch of medicine that deals with mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. It preceded the current disciplines of psychiatry and neurology, which had common training, however, psychiatry and neurology have subsequently split apart and are typically practiced separately. Nevertheless, neuropsychiatry has become a growing subspecialty of psychiatry and it is also closely related to the fields of neuropsychology and behavioral neurology.

The case for the rapprochement of neurology and psychiatry

Given the considerable overlap between these subspecialities, there has been a resurgence of interest and debate relating to neuropsychiatry in academia over the last decade.
Most of this work argues for a rapprochement of neurology and psychiatry, forming a specialty above and beyond a subspecialty of psychiatry. For example, Professor Joseph B. Martin, former Dean of Harvard Medical School and a neurologist by training, has summarized the argument for reunion: "the separation of the two categories is arbitrary, often influenced by beliefs rather than proven scientific observations. And the fact that the brain and mind are one makes the separation artificial anyway." These points and some of the other major arguments are detailed below.

Mind/brain monism

Neurologists have focused objectively on organic nervous system pathology, especially of the brain, whereas psychiatrists have laid claim to illnesses of the mind. This :wikt:antipodal|antipodal distinction between brain and mind as two different entities has characterized many of the differences between the two specialties. However, it has been argued that this division is fictional; evidence from the last century of research has shown that our mental life has its roots in the brain. Brain and mind have been argued not to be discrete entities but just different ways of looking at the same system. It has been argued that embracing this mind/brain monism may be useful for several reasons. First, rejecting dualism implies that all mentation is biological, which provides a common research framework in which understanding and treatment of mental disorders can be advanced. Second, it mitigates widespread confusion about the legitimacy of mental illness by suggesting that all disorders should have a footprint in the brain.
In sum, a reason for the division between psychiatry and neurology was the distinction between mind or first-person experience and the brain. That this difference is taken to be artificial by proponents of mind/brain monism supports a merge between these specialties.

Causal pluralism

One of the reasons for the divide is that neurology traditionally looks at the causes of disorders from an "inside-the-skin" perspective whereas psychiatry looks at "outside-the-skin" causation. This dichotomy is argued not to be instructive and authors have argued that it is better conceptualized as two ends of a causal continuum. The benefits of this position are: firstly, understanding of etiology will be enriched, in particular between brain and environment. One example is eating disorders, which have been found to have some neuropathology but also show increased incidence in rural Fijian school girls after exposure to television. Another example is schizophrenia, the risk for which may be considerably reduced in a healthy family environment.
It is also argued that this augmented understanding of etiology will lead to better remediation and rehabilitation strategies through an understanding of the different levels in the causal process where one can intervene. It may be that non-organic interventions, like cognitive behavioral therapy, better attenuate disorders alone or in conjunction with drugs. Linden's demonstration of how psychotherapy has neurobiological commonalities with pharmacotherapy is a pertinent example of this and is encouraging from a patient perspective as the potentiality for pernicious side effects is decreased while self-efficacy is increased.
In sum, the argument is that an understanding of the mental disorders must not only have a specific knowledge of brain constituents and genetics but also the context in which these parts operate. Only by joining neurology and psychiatry, it is argued, can this nexus be used to reduce human suffering.

Organic basis

To further sketch psychiatry's history shows a departure from structural neuropathology, relying more upon ideology. A good example of this is Tourette syndrome, which Ferenczi, although never having seen a patient with Tourette syndrome, suggested was the symbolic expression of masturbation caused by sexual repression. However, starting with the efficacy of neuroleptic drugs in attenuating symptoms the syndrome has gained pathophysiological support and is hypothesized to have a genetic basis too, based on its high inheritability. This trend can be seen for many hitherto traditionally psychiatric disorders and is argued to support reuniting neurology and psychiatry because both are dealing with disorders of the same system.
Psychiatric symptomsPsychodynamic explanationNeural correlatesSource
DepressionAnger turned inwardLimbic-cortical dysregulation, monoamine imbalanceMayberg
Mania
NarcissisticPrefrontal cortex and hippocampus, anterior cingulate, amygdalaBarrett et al., Vawter, Freed, & Kleinman
SchizophreniaNarcissistic/escapismNMDA receptor activation in the human prefrontal cortexRoss et al.
Visual hallucinationProjection, cold distant mother causing a weak egoRetinogeniculocalcarine tract, ascending brainstem modulatory structuresMocellin, Walterfang, Velakoulis,
Auditory hallucinationProjection, cold distant mother causing a weak egoFrontotemporal functional connectivityShergill et al., 2000
Obsessive-compulsive disorderHarsh parenting leading to love-hate conflictFrontal-subcortical circuitry, right caudate activitySaxena et al., Gamazo-Garran, Soutullo and Ortuno
Eating disorderAttempted control of internal anxietyAtypical serotonin system, right frontal and temporal lobe dysfunction, changes to mesolimbic dopamine pathwaysKaye et al., Uher and Treasure, Olsen, Slochower

Improved patient care

Further, it is argued that this nexus will allow a more refined nosology of mental illness to emerge thus helping to improve remediation and rehabilitation strategies beyond current ones that lump together ranges of symptoms. However, it cuts both ways: traditionally neurological disorders, like Parkinson's disease, are being recognized for their high incidence of traditionally psychiatric symptoms, like psychosis and depression. These symptoms, which are largely ignored in neurology, can be addressed by neuropsychiatry and lead to improved patient care. In sum, it is argued that patients from both traditional psychiatry and neurology departments will see their care improved following a reuniting of the specialties.

Better management model

Schiffer et al. argue that there are good management and financial reasons for rapprochement.

US institutions

"Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry" fellowships are accredited by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, in a manner analogous to the accreditation of psychiatry and neurology residencies in the United States by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
The American Neuropsychiatric Association was established in 1988 and is the American medical subspecialty society for neuropsychiatrists. ANPA holds an annual meeting and offers other forums for education and professional networking amongst subspecialists in behavioral neurology & neuropsychiatry as well as clinicians, scientists, and educators in related fields. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, which is the official journal of ANPA.

International organizations

The International Neuropsychiatric Association was established in 1996. INA holds congresses biennially in countries around the world and partners with regional neuropsychiatric associations around the world to support regional neuropsychiatric conferences and to facilitate the development of neuropsychiatry in the countries/regions where those conferences are held. Prof. Robert Haim Belmaker is the current President of the organization whereas Prof. Ennapadam S Krishnamoorthy serves as President-Elect with Dr. Gilberto Brofman as Secretary-Treasurer.
The British NeuroPsychiatry Association was founded in 1987 and is the leading academic and professional body for medical practitioners and professionals allied to medicine in the UK working at the interface of the clinical and cognitive neurosciences and psychiatry.
Recently, a new non-profit professional society named Neuropsychiatric Forum was founded. NPF aims to support effective communication and interdisciplinary collaboration, develop education schemes and research projects, organize neuropsychiatric conferences and seminars.

Subspecialty Certification