| Neurology |
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Field of work Neurological disorders are disorders that affect the Central Nervous System ( Brain , Brainstem and Cerebellum ), the Peripheral Nervous System ( Peripheral Nerves - Cranial Nerve s included), or the Autonomic Nervous System (parts of which are located in both central and peripheral nervous system). Major conditions include:
Clinical tasks General caseload Neurologists are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of all the above conditions. When surgical intervention is required, the neurologist may refer the patient to a Neurosurgeon , an interventional Neuroradiologist , or a neurointerventionalist. In some countries, additional legal responsibilities of a neurologist may include making a finding of Brain Death when it is suspected that a Patient is Deceased . Neurologists frequently care for people with hereditary ( Genetic ) diseases when the major manifestations are neurological, as is frequently the case. Neurologists may specialize in clinical Neurophysiology , the field responsible for Electroencephalography (EEG), Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyography (EMG). The interpretation of such evoked potentials such as Somatosensory Evoked Potential s (SSEP), Visual Evoked Potential s (VEP) and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) also falls under the domain of neurophysiology. Other neurologists may develop an interest in particular subfields, such as movement disorders, Headache s, Epilepsy , sleep disorders, Multiple Sclerosis or neuromuscular diseases. Lumbar Puncture s are frequently performed by Michael. Overlap with psychiatry Although many Mental Illness es are believed to be neurological disorders affecting the Central Nervous System , traditionally they are classified separately, and treated by Psychiatrists . In a 2002 review article in the American Journal Of Psychiatry , Professor Joseph B. Martin , Dean of Harvard Medical School and a neurologist by training, wrote that '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.' (Martin JB. The integration of neurology, psychiatry and neuroscience in the 21st century. Am J Psychiatry 2002; 159:695-704) There are strong indications that neuro-chemical mechanisms play an important role in the development of, for instance, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia . As well, 'neurological' diseases often have 'psychiatric' manifestations, such as post- Stroke Depression , depression and Dementia associated with Parkinson's Disease , mood and cognitive dysfunctions in Alzheimer's Disease , to name a few. Hence, there is no sharp distinction between Neurology and Psychiatry on a biological basis - this distinction has mainly practical reasons and strong historical roots (such as the dominance of Freud 's Psychoanalytic Theory in psychiatric thinking in the first three quarters of the 20th century - which has since then been largely replaced by the focus on Neurosciences - aided by the tremendous advances in Genetics and Neuroimaging recently.) See also
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