Professor Maura N. Mitrushina, Ph.D.
Contact
- Office Location: SH 370C
Office Phone: (818) 677-4736
E-mail: maura.mitrushina@csun.edu
Education
- Ph.D. 1985, State University of New York
M.S. 1977, Leningrad University
M.S. 1973, Leningrad Conservatory
Specialty Areas: Clinical, Physiological and Neuropsychology.
Courses Taught
- Psy 310 - Behavior Disorders
- Psy 402/L - Brain and Behavior & Lab
Selected Publications and Presentations
Mitrushina, M. (2000). Test Review: The Severe Cognitive Impaiment Profile (SCIP). Journal of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Neuropsychology, 22 (2), 294-298.
The article introduces a new test developed by G.M. Peavy, recently published by Psychological Assessment Resources, which is designed to assess functioning across various cognitive domains in the later stages of dementia. The review addresses aims and comparative value, test contents and critique of the new test.
Mitrushina, M. N., Boone, K. B., & D'Elia, L. F. (1999). Handbook of normative data for neuropsychological assessment. New York, NY, USA: Oxford University Press.
(from the jacket) The "Handbook of Normative Data for Neuropsychological Assessment" is the first reference to present and critique available normative data for the most common neuropsychological tests. Information tables throughout the book guide clinicians to the sets normative data that are best suited to their needs, depending on the age, sex, education level, handedness, IQ, and ethnicity of their patients, and highlight the advantages associated with using data for comparative purposes. Those using the book have the option of reading the authors' critical review of the normative data for a particular test, or simply turning to the appropriate data locator table for quick test score interpretation. This book will be of use to practitioners, researchers, teachers, and graduate students of neuropsychology.
Research Interests
This study proposes to explore neuropsychological and electrophysiological indices characteristic for normal aging. This understanding of the baseline pattern associated with aging will facilitate differential diagnosis of Dementia of Alzheimer's Type in the early stages of the disease. Neurologically intact elderly will be used as subjects. The study will include 2 components: Neuropsychological component of the study will consist of a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests assessing a broad range of cognitive domains known to be affected in DAT. The electrophysiological component will consist of recording event-related potentials (ERPs) while Ss will perform a version of Continuous Performance Task. Amplitude and latency of P300 potential will be of primary interest. The findings will contribute to the enhancement of understanding of normal and abnormal aging and to the improvement of quality of life for affected elderly.
Students are invited to participate in a project directed at exploration of psychometric properties of the long and short versions of the commonly used intelligence tests (WAIS-III and WASI), and at comparative study of various methods of intelligence estimation. The experimental procedure includes administration of tests and questionnaires for a total duration of 2.5 to 3 hours split over 2 sessions. Subjects will be tested at CSUN Psychology Department (Ss pool), retirement community in Camarillo, Psychiatry Ward of Olive View/UCLA Medical Center (in Sylmar), and Neurorehabilitation Ward of Northridge Hospital. After a brief training period, scheduling of Ss will be done by students at their convenience. Students are encouraged to stay in the project for longer than one semester. At students' request they are welcome to participate in data analysis, data interpretation and report writing stages of this research. Students will receive a letter grade and eternal gratitude of the instructor for their participation.
Students are invited to participate in a clinically-oriented project directed at assessment and case-management of patients with traumatic head injuries who are receiving services at the Independent Living Center in Van Nuys. This is a community service project which is also aimed at training students in providing clinical services. In addition, it offers a research opportunity to investigate functional status of long-term head-injury survivors. Students will be trained in establishing clinical rapport with patients and in administration of a comprehensive battery of tests and questionnaires assessing cognitive status and functional capacities of patients. Students will be scheduling meetings with patients at the facility in Van Nuys at their and their patient's convenience, during working hours of the facility. Students are encouraged to stay in the project for longer than one semester. At students' request they are welcome to participate in data analysis, data interpretation and report writing stages of this research. Students will receive a letter grade and eternal gratitude of the instructor for their participation.