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Hello! I am a neuropsychologist who specializes in the assessment and diagnosis of brain injuries and disease that affect cognitive and psychological functioning. I have provided clinical neuropsychological evaluations for a range of conditions, including complex TBI cases, neurodegeneratieve diseases and dementias, stroke and cardiovascular disease, movement disorders, infectious diseases, neurotoxic exposure and anoxia, auto-immune diseases, metabolic disorders, brain tumors, demyelinating diseases, epilepsy, pre-/post-operative evaluations, ADHD, somataform disorders, malingering, and other psychiatric illnesses. I have also had the privilege of publishing a number of peer-reviewed studies in neuropsychology and neuroscience journals. My most recent publication was a chapter in a widely used neurology textbook called Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. I am grateful for the opportunity to answer people's questions on Health Tap, and I look forward to being a resource to patients.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Clinical Psychology
Doctor Q&A
35 Answers
46 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Many conditions: Many diseases and injuries cause short term memory loss. Head injury is one of the most common causes in young people, while dementia is one of the mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Fear No Escape: Agoraphobia is a fear of being unable to escape a situation in the event of a panic attack. People who suffer from panic disorder with agoraphobia of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Research pending...: Many places are researching the use of telehealth, which includes providing counseling over the internet. Research on the effectiveness of telehealth... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Lack of enjoyment: Anhedonia simply means an inability to find pleasure in the activities and hobbies that you used to enjoy. The key difference between anhedonia and a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Involuntary function: The autonomic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system. It is ‘autonomic’ because it does not require voluntary thought to function. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
No.: Much of the time, bipolar disorder is treated with lithium carbonate, which has it's own side effects (e.g., potential liver dysfunction), but it will... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
MRIs+Lumbar Puncture: Standard tests include mris of the spine (cervical and thoracic) and the brain to look for sclerotic plaques, which usually have a characteristic patt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Not progressive: Bipolar disorder is not usually thought of as a progressive disease. Manic episodes and mood cycling are more problematic when not treated effectivel... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Available Tx: In 2008, tetrabenazine was the first fda approved drug for chorea in huntington disease. Its efficacy is variable, so discuss this option with your ne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
In different degrees: Acute intoxication usually leads to memory loss for events around the time the person is drunk. Chronic drinking can indirectly lead to more extensiv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Unlikely: During normal development the human brain does not generally begin to consolidate episodic memories (i.e., long-term storage of memories for events) u... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Random is the key...: If your heart pounds at random moments with no known cause, then you may be having a panic attack. Becoming sweaty, faint, or flushed are also signs ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
HDSA: The huntington disease society of america has an excellent website to help you find their local chapter and other support. They also have an annual co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Brain Injury: Traumatic brain injury is the most common cause of memory loss among adolescent and young adults. Neurodegenerative causes of memory loss (e.g., Alzh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Depends on severity.: A moderate or severe head injury can have lifelong effects, with the greatest amount of recovery happening within the first year after the injury. A ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
CBT: Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy (cbt) is particularly effective for addressing social anxiety. The research shows that improvements gained from cb... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Yes: Ptsd can last for decades if untreated. Fortunately, it is one of the most treatable psychological disorders. Psychotherapy using prolonged exposure o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
14% a year...: Approximately 14% of patients diagnosed with amnestic mci progress into Alzheimer's disease every year. The progression rate of those diagnosed with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Symptoms of Anorexia: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person refuses to maintain a normal body weight, has a fear of being fat, and significantly misperce... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Congenital disorder: A fetus develops cephalocaudally, which is a fancy way of saying “from head to tail.” in caudal (“tail”) regression, the lower spine forms abnormally ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Not the best: At best, online tests for depression are only useful for screening depressive symptoms...And that is if you happen to stumble across a well researched... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Usually Depression: Pseudodementia is when a medical condition acts as a chronic memory problem, but is not due to a problem with the brain’s memory system. It is commonl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Not typical...: A visit with a psychiatrist is in order if you have these symptoms. They may adjust your medications and/or refer you to a neuropsychologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Yes and no...: An eeg will usually only 'change' if you happen to catch a seizure in the moment. This is why an eeg usually involves inducing a seizure with flashin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
3.5 times more...: A 2004 study in the annals of neurology, by dr. Haydeh payami, found that first-degree relatives (i.e., parents and siblings) of patients with idiopat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Depends...: It probably depends on why you were given the polygraph in the first place. For the most part, they are not reliable predictors of much; according to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Depends on you...: Stress levels are dependent on an interaction between many factors, including level of job risk, level of perceived risk, stress tolerance, personal r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Common signs: Most studies of memory indicate that memory peaks in the 18-30 year old range, and then it gradually declines after that, so changes in memory are nor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Yes in Basal Ganglia: The areas in the brain first targeted in huntington disease are the caudate and putamen deep in the brain. Research has shown that these areas begin ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Many factors: Choice of treatment depends on many factors. Research on which treatments work for which disorders is a key factor. For example, forms of cognitive ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Available Treatments: No, but treatments are becoming available. In 2008, tetrabenazine was the first fda approved drug for chorea in hd; discuss this option with your neur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Lots of things...: Exercise, meditation, scripture reading, long showers, etc. A very short, but good, book on this exact topic is "what the most successful people do b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
MRIs+Lumbar Puncture: Standard tests include mris of the spine (cervical and thoracic) and the brain to look for sclerotic plaques, which usually have a characteristic patt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Visit a Sleep Clinic: Visit a sleep disorders clinic, and they can begin to help you identify the cause of your sleeplessness and why you stop breathing. They may recommen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Justin ORourkeanswered
12 years experience
Yes, in some ways: Stress affects some types of memory, depending on the cause and severity. One way chronic stress may negatively affect your recent memory is by disrup... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
102
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. ORourke is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. ORourke is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
I so appreciate the amount of REAL info I've got from u guys for FREE in 30days, after racking up over $15k in the last 10yrs w NO help. TY!
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thanks, but 5 years, no insurance, so I will wait until I fall again
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I am thankful, recovering from a head contusion
Awards
The National Academy of Neuropsychologyâs Dr. Ted Blau Award, 2009
University of Iowaâs Ballard-Seashore Dissertation Fellowship Award, 2010-2011
The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology National Psychologist Trainee Register Credentialing Award, 2012
Affiliations
National Academy of Neuropsychology
National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
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