Psychological symptoms experienced by individuals living with neurological conditions: An audit of referrals to a neuropsychology service in a tertiary acute hospital setting.

This article focuses on the prevalence and severity of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among patients with neurological conditions referred to a specialist neuropsychology service in a tertiary acute hospital in Dublin, Ireland. An audit of 400 patients found that 79% exhibited clinically elevated symptoms on at least one psychometric measure, with 38% experiencing moderate-to-severe psychological distress, 37% moderate-to-severe anxiety, and 20% moderate-to-severe depression. The findings highlight the need for neuropsychology services to develop integrated, flexible care pathways that utilize clinical neuropsychologists' competencies in both neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapeutic intervention to address mental health needs effectively. The study also notes challenges such as long waiting times and variable referral practices, emphasizing the importance of timely access to psychological support and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and community resources.