Kasten Erich
Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Front Psychol. 2022 Feb 28;13:843319. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.843319. eCollection 2022.
Clinical neuropsychologists have been working in Germany since the 1980s, and specific training in the discipline has been available since 1993. The qualification currently requires 3 years of practical training, 400 h of theoretical learning, 100 h of supervision, five reports on patients and an oral examination. After its completion, neuropsychologists can work as employees in clinical settings. For a substantial period of time, neuropsychologists working in their own practices faced complex challenges in working with outpatients, whose health insurers did not cover the cost of this treatment. State approval of neuropsychological diagnostic procedures and therapy was achieved in 2011, on the basis of evidence showing the method's high effectiveness; statutory health insurers therefore now pay out for delivery of these services on an outpatient basis, too. In Germany, neuropsychologists work in all areas of the diagnosis of functional disorders, with children, adolescents, adults and older adults, and carry out treatment. Clinical neuropsychologists provide patients with individualized tools for managing their brain damage, supply exercises and tasks for them to undertake at home, and give input on administrative matters, such as determining the degree of a patient's disability. Treatment takes place in close collaboration with members of related professions, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Neuropsychologists also work as assessors, investigating, for example, the extent of a patient's ability to work after sustaining CNS damage or the need for medical retirement. The earnings of clinical neuropsychologists vary widely, currently averaging between €3,000 and €4,000 gross per month for employed neuropsychologists; self-employed neuropsychologists in their own practices can currently bill statutory health insurers for around €100.00 per hour. Despite the generally good working conditions in this discipline, Germany is suffering from a shortage of clinical neuropsychologists. An approximate total of 800 psychologists have completed training in this field, while around 50,000 patients could benefit from neuropsychological treatment every year.
自20世纪80年代起，临床神经心理学家就在德国开展工作，自1993年起便有了该学科的专业培训。目前的资质要求包括3年的实践培训、400小时的理论学习、100小时的督导、5份患者报告以及一次口试。完成培训后，神经心理学家可在临床机构任职。在很长一段时间里，开设私人诊所的神经心理学家在为门诊患者提供服务时面临复杂挑战，因为患者的健康保险不涵盖此类治疗费用。2011年，基于该方法具有高效性的证据，神经心理学诊断程序和治疗获得了国家批准；因此，法定健康保险公司现在也为门诊提供的这些服务支付费用。在德国，神经心理学家在功能性障碍诊断的各个领域工作，涉及儿童、青少年、成年人和老年人，并开展治疗。临床神经心理学家为患者提供应对脑损伤的个性化工具，提供在家中进行的练习和任务，并就行政事务提供意见，比如确定患者的残疾程度。治疗工作与相关专业人员密切合作开展，这些专业人员包括物理治疗师、职业治疗师和言语治疗师。神经心理学家还担任评估员，例如调查患者在中枢神经系统受损后工作能力的受损程度或医疗退休的必要性。临床神经心理学家的收入差异很大，目前受雇的神经心理学家月总收入平均在3000至4000欧元之间；开设私人诊所的个体经营神经心理学家目前向法定健康保险公司收取的费用约为每小时100欧元。尽管该学科的总体工作条件良好，但德国仍面临临床神经心理学家短缺的问题。大约共有800名心理学家完成了该领域的培训，而每年约有50000名患者可从神经心理治疗中受益。
