First published in 1996 by OUP, the 2nd edition of Fractured Minds is a book that will engage lay readers who are fascinated by the mind and brain, as well as neurological patients and their families, and students of neuropsychology, psychology, medicine and other health professions who work with brain- injured people. Fractured Minds introduces the reader to clinical neuropsychology through vivid case descriptions of adults who have suffered brain damage. On one level, this is a book about the courage, humor, and determination to triumph over illness and disability that many “ordinary people” demonstrate when coping with the extraordinary stress of a brain disorder. On another level, it is a well-referenced and up-to-date textbook that provides a holistic view of the practice of neuropsychology. Included are reader-friendly descriptions and explanations of a wide range of neurological disorders and neuroscientific concepts. Disorders range across a wide spectrum, from common disorders such as traumatic brain injury, Multiple Sclerosis , Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases, to rare disorders such as visual agnosia – not recognizing objects and faces – and autotopagnosia – losing the ability to find the different parts of the human body. Discussions of topical issues such as cross-cultural assessment, genetically transmitted diseases, genetic counseling, gene transplantation, functional neurosurgery and the complex ethical issues that go hand in hand with these techniques are woven into the case studies.

PRAISE FOR FRACTURED MINDS

“The selected cases are extremely well presented, rich in detail, and unmatched in the presentation of the human aspect of neurological disease. Dr. Ogden provides details of the person’s premorbid history, the clinical presentations and history, medical findings, the methods of cognitive assessment, and specific test results. Almost every chapter begins with a first person account of her encounter with a patient; her clinical, almost chatty discussions and personal character descriptions were refreshing and almost novel-like. “Luke,” “Janet,” “Rangi,” etc., all come vividly to life to the reader. …she includes the classic HM case. Her discussion of HM includes observations and information about his emotional reactions, specific non-test behaviors and his own observations not usually included in a basic text, and certainly not to be found in research papers. They will entice any clinician into reading them hungrily. … her approach is systematic, logical, and illustrates sound clinical reasoning. As a text, it would be a very strong supplement to a solid foundation in neurosciences.” -- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

“Jenni Ogden has made a successful attempt to write a textbook that stimulates readers’ interest without the overload of technical details. …As the stories unfold, readers are presented with vivid pictures of individuals whose lives have been tragically affected by the neurological disorders… The most remarkable feature of this volume lies in the author’s emphasis on bringing clinical practice back to neuropsychology. In this volume, clinical practice in neuropsychology goes beyond diagnostic evaluation. It is a discipline that sets its goals on improving the quality of life for patients and their families. It is … a book written with clarity and clinical sensitivity. Lecturers in introductory neuropsychology, abnormal psychology, or introductory psychology will find this volume a useful source for supplementary reading and a book students can enjoy.” – Contemporary Psychology

“The book’s goal is to provide the reader with a broad picture of clinical psychology. Dr. Ogden’s intent is that the book will serve as an introductory text in clinical neuropsychology that will capture the attention and interest of students without actually requiring them to ‘learn how to do it.’ It was written primarily for university and beginning graduate students, but it will also be of interest to health professionals who work with neurological patients…” – The American Journal of Psychiatry

“Readers of this book will find themselves exposed to a seasoned clinician describing some of her more interesting cases and experiences. The case study approach has a natural appeal for the reader, its format being more akin to a collection of short stories than to a scientific work with pages of charts, tables, and text comparing various groups. The compelling nature of case studies in neurology has been demonstrated best by authors such as Oliver Sacks and Howard Klawans. In the present book, the writing is clear and flows well, allowing the author’s wisdom and humanity shine through. Diagnoses are illustrated … by folksy descriptions of the individual or interesting bits of interviews. ” – Psychcritiques, The American Psychological Association.