Erica Dawson, PhD
- Associate Professor, Director of Neuropsychology, Director of the Neurocognitive Wellness and Therapy Program
About the Division
Patients with neurological conditions often experience a wide range of symptoms, some of which can be overlooked in traditional, siloed care settings. The Neuropsychology Division within the Department of Neurology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center was established to improve access and outcomes for individuals with these conditions.
- We offer comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation and treatment that targets the unique cognitive, behavioral and emotional needs of patients with conditions such as dementia, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and many others.
- We are in the same physical spaces as other providers in our department, which promotes communication and collaboration between providers in both clinical and research endeavors.
Welcome from Division Director, Erica Dawson, PhD, ABPP
It is no surprise that research consistently supports a transdisciplinary approach to treating chronic medical conditions. Providers communicate more effectively, share ideas, and work collaboratively to produce more meaningful educational opportunities, research studies, and patient care. The innovative approach of integrating cognitive and mental health services within the Department of Neurology is a bold and exciting opportunity to break down barriers to existing forms of care and emphasizes the value of treating each patient as an integrated whole rather than someone with discrete, separate health issues.
Goals and highlights
- Providers within this program are members of several specialty Neurology teams, including Neuro-Oncology, Multiple Sclerosis and Neuro-immunology, Epilepsy, Cognitive Disorders and Movement Disorders
- We contribute to patient care rounds and discussions pertaining to surgical candidacy
- We help connect patients and caregivers with departmental, institutional, and community resources
- We collaborate on research projects to make sure that cognition, behavior, mood, and overall quality of life are routinely considered
- We are growing! There is considerable interest in increasing access to our services, which means that our team must expand to keep up with demand
Centers and clinics
- General Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic serves a wide range of clinical populations. Neuropsychological evaluations, cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy are offered
- Oncology Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic offers neuropsychological evaluations for adults with various cancers. While adults with brain tumors are the primary population, we also see patients with non-central nervous system cancers, as we know that some cancer treatments can cause cognitive changes
- Epilepsy Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic operates focuses exclusively on patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy being considered for neurosurgery
- Movement Disorders Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic offers neuropsychological evaluations, cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy for adults with movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease
Programs and services
The Neurocognitive Wellness and Therapy Program encompasses our broader clinical services of neuropsychological evaluation, cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy. The goal of this program is to help patients and their family members promote everyday functioning and quality of life.
A neuropsychological evaluation objectively measures changes in thinking abilities, assists with diagnostic clarification, and clarifies patient-specific treatment recommendations. Appointments take 2-5 hours, depending on the referral question, and consists mostly of paper-and-pencil testing of thinking abilities such as attention, language, memory and problem solving. Results are interpreted in the context of each patient’s unique history and current functioning. A comprehensive report is shared with the referring provider, and a feedback appointment is offered to all patients. Recommendations relate to minimizing risk factors (e.g., poor sleep, depression) and maximizing functioning.
Neuropsychological evaluation can be particularly helpful for individuals with chronic medical conditions that cause cognitive changes that hinder work or academic performance, as evidence of objective impairment can qualify individuals for accommodations and other resources. Neuropsychological evaluation can also assist with determining decision making capacity or the need for family assistance, such as in the context of emerging dementia.
Following completion of a neuropsychological evaluation, many individuals are referred for other services, such as speech or occupational therapy. Other patients may be referred for cognitive rehabilitation services. Our program features a trans-diagnostic, evidence-based approach to cognitive rehabilitation that emphasizes education about mitigating risk factors and implementation of strategies to better compensate for cognitive limitations. This 4-6 session program is geared toward individuals who have some cognitive limitations but are largely independent – it serves to help boost everyday functioning.
We all know that the brain is complex, but we sometimes forget that it does more than manage thinking. As many as 1 in 2 people with a chronic neurological disorder experiences clinically significant depression or anxiety – that rate is much higher than is seen in the general population. Sometimes those symptoms reflect difficulty adjusting to the disease, sometimes they are a symptom of the disease, and sometimes they are totally unrelated. Medications can help treat those symptoms. Psychotherapy is another important treatment option.
Psychotherapy helps patients cope with their situation through active problem solving and education on specific strategies. Sessions typically span 45 minutes to an hour and occur on a weekly basis. Evidence-based therapy approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, are used to help patients feel better equipped to handle stressors.
Residency and Fellowship
The Neuropsychology division with the Department of Neurology provides clinical neuropsychology training and mentorship to psychology graduate students via formal practicum placement. The program also offers clinical rotations for postdoctoral fellows in the Psychiatry Neuropsychology training program. Finally, medical residents in Neurology and Psychiatry rotate with our neuropsychologists to learn more about how our services work so they can make informed choices about when to refer patients to our clinics.
More broadly, the Department of Neurology at the Ohio State University has a long history of a dedicated commitment to education. We have world-class faculty and staff, state-of-the-art amenities, and novel technologies, all of which enables trainees to gain experience in the management of complex pathologies and apply innovative and high-quality medical care for a diverse patient population. Learn more about our neurology residency and fellowship programs.
Our Team
Sarah Grim, LISW
- Social Worker, Department of Neurology
Rochelle O'Neil, PhD
- Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
Jessica Pommy, PhD
Manisha Sawhney, PhD
Veronica Thornton, PhD
Emily Webster, MSW, LISW
Research and clinical trials
We collaborate on various research projects within the department. Our primary role currently is to inform the assessment of cognition, mood, behavior, and quality of life. As our team grows, we anticipate serving a more direct role on specific projects.