Regulated health professions
Neurology
What is Neurology?
- What is Neurology for?
- Diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system and their psychological effects
- Is Neurology legally regulated?
- Medical profession, specialist in neurology (Physicians Act). Listed in the medical register.
- Does Neurology treat illnesses?
- Yes, neurological conditions. For mental health topics only complementary, for assessment.
Neurology is the medical specialty for disorders of the nervous system: brain, spinal cord and nerves. This includes migraine and headaches, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s and dementia.
For mental health, neurology matters mainly for assessment: some complaints that look psychological, such as concentration problems, memory issues, dizziness or exhaustion, can have a physical, neurological cause. Neurology helps clarify this and distinguish it from mental illness.
Neurologists are medical specialists and may diagnose, prescribe medication and refer on. You can see them with your e-card or privately. For purely psychological concerns, psychiatry, psychotherapy or clinical psychology are the better fit.
What is allowed
- Diagnose and treat neurological conditions such as migraine, epilepsy, MS or Parkinson's
- Rule out physical causes of psychological symptoms
- Prescribe medication and issue expert reports
Where are the limits?
- Does not treat mental illness in the narrower sense; that is psychiatry
- No psychotherapy
How to recognise quality
- Listed in the medical register
- Clear findings, works with other disciplines
- Refers to psychiatry or psychotherapy when the focus is psychological
How it works
- Referralusually via GP or specialist
- Examinationneurological status, device or laboratory diagnostics if needed
- Findingsinterpretation and treatment proposal