Neurology

Amy K. Heffelfinger, PhD

Director of Training and Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Pediatrics

Specialty: Neuropsychology

Sub-Specialty:

• Pediatric Neuropsychology
• Infant and Preschool Children

Education:

• PhD, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 1997
• Masters in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 1999

Training:

• Internship, Pediatric Psychology and Child Neur, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1996-1997
• Fellowship, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, 1997-2000

Brief Clinical/Research Interest Statement:

Dr. Heffelfinger specializes in the evaluation and treatment of preschool and school-age children with neurological, behavioral, and developmental disorders in the Neuropsychology Clinic. Specialty evaluations are also provided through the Preschool and Infant Neuropsychological Testing (P.I.N.T.) Clinic and the Autism Clinic.

Dr. Heffelfinger's current research involves the study of early development of neuropsychological function, with a focus on attention and executive functioning. Her work also investigates cognitive outcomes of adolescents with spina bifida, brain tumor, and genetic disorders. She presents her research at national conventions and publishes in peer review journals.
 

Publications:

Refereed Journal Publications/Original Papers

1. Heffelfinger, A., Craft, S. & Shyken, J. 1997. Visual attention in children prenatally exposed to cocaine. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 3, 237-245.
2. Ablow, J., Measelle, J., Kraemer, H., Harrington, R., Luby, J., Smider, N., Dierker, L., Clark, V., Dubika, B., Heffelfinger, A., Essex, M., & Kupfer, D. 1999. The MacArthur Three-City Outcome Study: Evaluating Multi-Informant Measures of Young Children’s Symptomatology.. Journal of Adolescent and Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 1580-1591.
3. Heffelfinger, A. & Newcomer, J. 2001. Glucocorticoid effects on the development of memory throughout the lifespan. Development and Psychopathology, 13: 491-513.
4. Heffelfinger, A., Craft, S. White, D., & Shyken, J. 2002. Visual attention in preschool children prenatally exposed to cocaine: Implications for behavioral regulation. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 8: 12-21.
5. Luby, J.L., Heffelfinger A., Measelle, J.R., Ablow, J.C., Essex, M.J., Dierker, L., Harrington, R., Kraemer H.C., Kupfer, D. 2002. Differential Performance of the MacArthur HBQ and DISC-IV in Identification of DSM-IV Internalizing Psychopathology in Young Children. Journal of Adolescent and Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(4): 458-466.
6. Luby, J.L., Heffelfinger, A., Mrakotsky, C., Hessler, M., & Brown, K. 2002. Preschool Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Validation for developmentally modified DSM-IV criteria. Journal of Adolescent and Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(8):928-937.
7. Luby, J.L., Heffelfinger, A., Mrakotsky, C., Brown, K., Hessler, M., Wallis, J., & Spitznagel, E. (2003) The Clinical Picture of Depression in Preschool Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(3):340 - 348.
8. Luby, J.L., Mrakotsky, C., Heffelfinger, A., Brown, K., Hessler, M., Spitznagel, E. (2003) Modification of DSM-IV Criteria for Depressed Preschool Children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160:1169-1172.
9. Luby, J.L., Heffelfinger, A., Mrakotsky, C., Brown, K., Hessler, M., Spitznagel, E. (2003). Alterations in Stress Cortisol Reactivity in Depressed Preschoolers Relative to Psychiatric and No Disorder Comparison Groups. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(12):1248-1255.
10. Luby, J.L., Heffelfinger, A., Koenig-McNaught, A.L., Brown, K., Spitznagel, E. (2004). The Preschool Feelings Checklist: A Brief and Sensitive Screening Measure for Depression in Young Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry.
11. Luby, J.L., Mrakotsky, C.M., Heffelfinger, A., Brown, K., & Spitznagel, E. (2004). Characteristics of depressed preschoolers with and without anhedonia: Evidence for a melancholic depressive sub-type in young children. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 161:1998-2004.
12. Luby, J.L., Mrakotsky, C.M., Stalets, M.M., Belden, A., Heffelfinger, A.K., Williams, M. and Spitznagel, E. (2006). Risperidone in Preschool Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: An Investigation of Safety and Efficacy. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
13. Heffelfinger, A.K., Koop, J.I., Fastenau, P.S., Brei, T.J., Conant, L., Katzenstein, J., Cashin, S.E., and Sawin, K.J. (2008). The Relationship of Neuropsychological Factors to Functional Outcomes in Adolescents with Spina Bifida. The Journal of the International Neuropsychology Society.
14. Heffelfinger, A.K. and Koop, J.I. (2009). Preschool Neuropsychological Assessment: A Description of the Neuropsychological Assessment and Diagnostic Impressions in the P.I.N.T. Clinic after the First Five Years. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 23:512-76.

Book Chapters

1. Heffelfinger, A.K. and Mrakotsky, C.M. (2006). Normative Cognitive Development during the Preschool Age in Handbook of Preschool Mental Health: Development, Disorders and Treatment. Ed. Luby, J.L. Guilford Press.
2. Mrakotsky, C.M. and Heffelfinger, A.K. (2006). Neuropsychological Assessment of Preschoolers in Handbook of Preschool Mental Health: Development, Disorders and Treatment. Ed. Luby, J.L. Guilford Press.
3. Heffelfinger, A.K. (2008). Never Ever Shake a Baby: Pass It On. In Pediatric Neuropsychology Case Studies. Ed. Niskala Apps, Newby, and Roberts. Springer.