edited by K.K. Zakzanis, L. Leach, and E. Kaplan, 272 pp., ill., Lisse, the Netherlands, Swets & Zeitlinger, 1999, $79

The authors of Neuropsychological Differential Diagnosis employ meta-analysis to systematically examine the neuropsychological literature as it relates to specific syndromes. Relevant, statistically significant findings are synthesized and presented in a clear and comprehensive review. The resulting profiles delineate commonly used neuropsychological tests ranked in order of statistical significance and sensitivity to certain disorders. Selection of the specific syndromes included in the meta-analytic study is based upon the availability of applicable research and strict methodologic criteria. Consequently, the neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders included in the review are dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, progressive supranuclear palsy, PD, Huntington’s disease, MS, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and mild traumatic brain injury.

The initial chapters describe the purpose and intent of the review, the methodologic approach, and considerations involved in the literature search and analysis. The majority of the text is devoted to individual chapters for each of the above mentioned neurologic or neuropsychiatric disorders. Each chapter briefly describes the syndrome, the diagnosis and study inclusion criteria, the studies reviewed, and provides a ranking of neuropsychological tests. These tests are presented in the context of basic cognitive domains, ordered by significance of impairment, as determined by calculated effect size. The final chapter provides a quantitative summary of the findings, including comparative profiles of the syndromes. Additionally, a proposed battery to aid in differential diagnosis is presented. Magnitude of effect size, standardization, availability of test, and use across different etiologies were considerations in selecting the tests for this battery.

The meta-analytic reviews encompass studies between 1980 and 1997. Unfortunately, because certain syndromes such as frontotemporal dementia have experienced a burgeoning of scientific findings in the past couple of years, …