Dr Anna Jane Dreyer

I am a HPCSA registered Neuropsychologist offering private neuropsychological assessments for individuals who may be experiencing cognitive, psychological or emotional problems as a result of possible brain damage. I have a PhD in Neuropsychiatry and Masters degree in neuropsychology (Cum Laude) from the University of Cape Town and completed my clinical training at Groote Schuur and Red Cross hospitals. I also have a passion for psychoanalytic neurorehabilitation.

My approach to neuropsycholological assessment

I use the hypothetical-deductive approach to assessments. This approach focuses on how someone performs on cognitive tests and does not rely only on the test score. Cognitive test performance is interpreted according to the context, background and personality of the patient.

Benefits of the hypothetical-deductive approach

  • It is useful to answer a specific clinical question
  • The assessment is modified to the person’s context i.e. physical or sensory deficits, language, level and quality of education, culture, age, and socio-economic status
  • It does not reduce complex behaviour to a score
  • It is often more time and cost-effective
  • The assessment and testing are based on knowledge of person’s pathology and history
  • Tests are altered/adapted to answer particular questions about the nature of the deficits

Publications

  • Dreyer, A. J., Nightingale, S., Andersen, L. S., Lee, J. S., Gouse, H., Safren, S. A., O’Cleirigh, C., Thomas, K. G. F., & Joska, J. (2023). Cognitive Performance, as well as Depression, Alcohol Use, and Gender, predict Anti-Retroviral Therapy Adherence in a South African Cohort of People with HIV and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder, AIDS and Behavior.
  • Dreyer, A. J., Nightingale, S., Andersen, L. S., Lee, J. S., Gouse, H., Safren, S. A., O’Cleirigh, C., Thomas, K. G, & Joska, J. A. Sex Differences in the Cognitive Performance of a South African Cohort of People with HIV and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder. (2023), Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC).
  • Dreyer, A. J., Nightingale, S., Andersen, L. S., Lee, J. S., Gouse, H., Safren, S. A., O’Cleirigh, C., Thomas, K. G, & Joska, J. A. (2022). Cognitive Performance in a South African Cohort of People with HIV and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder, Journal of NeuroVirology.
  • Dreyer, A. J., Stephen, D., Human, R., Swanepoel, T. L., Adams, L., O’neill, A., Jacobs, W. J, & Thomas, K. G. F. (2022). Risky Decision Making Under Stressful Conditions: Men and women with smaller cortisol elevations make riskier social and economic decisions, Frontiers in Psychology.
  • Dreyer, A. J., Nightingale, S., Woodruff, J., Henry, M., Gouse, H., Paul, P., Thomas, K. G, & Joska, J. A. (2021). Rates of Cognitive Impairment in a South African Cohort of People with HIV: Variation by definitional criteria and lack of association with neuroimaging biomarkers, Journal of NeuroVirology
  • Dreyer, A. J., Munsami, M., Williams, W., Andersen, L.S., Nightingale, S., Gouse, H., Joska, J. A, & Thomas, K. G (2021). Cognitive Differences Between Men and Women With HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology.

See Google Scholar profile for full list of publications

Membership

  • Psychological Society of South Africa, division of Clinical Neuropsychology
  • South African Psychoanalytic Initiative
  • Member of American Psychological Association

HPCSA number: PS 0146471
Practice number: 0913146