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Trouble In Mind: Stories From A Neuropsychologist's Casebook
In Trouble in Mind, neuropsychologist Jenni Ogden, author of Fractured Minds, transports the reader into the worlds of 15 of her most memorable neurological patients. There is Luke, the gang member who loses his speech but finds he can still sing, and HM, who by losing his memory becomes the most studied single case in medical history. You will meet Julian, who misplaces his internal map of the human body; Melody, a singer who risks losing her song when she undergoes brain surgery to cure her epilepsy; and Sophie, who has just enough time to put her house in order before Alzheimer ’s dementia steals her insight.
For the patients, the struggle to understand their disordered minds and disobedient bodies takes extraordinary courage and determination. For professionals and researchers working with these patients, the ethical and emotional challenges are demanding. Trouble in Mind is a book that will be enjoyed by general readers, students, and health professionals alike.
For the patients, the struggle to understand their disordered minds and disobedient bodies takes extraordinary courage and determination. For professionals and researchers working with these patients, the ethical and emotional challenges are demanding. Trouble in Mind is a book that will be enjoyed by general readers, students, and health professionals alike.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2012
14 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Jenni Ogden
6 books320 followersReading and writing fiction is my passion, along with walking, swimming, reading and sleeping on beaches. Husband John and I live off-grid on spectacular Great Barrier Island, 100 kms off the coast of New Zealand, a perfect place to write, and we often spend time in Australia, preferably close to a coral reef. My latest novel, 'Dancing with Dragons' the winner of the 2024 GOLD Independent Publisher Book Awards for Fiction, Australia/New Zealand-Aotearoa/Pacific Rim, was published in July, 2024.. 'Call My Name' , a great read for bookclubs, set mainly in Queensland, Australia, is the story of two women, bound together by contrasting personalities, friendship, love and home—until motherhood rips them apart. My debut novel, 'A Drop in the Ocean', won multiple awards and has sold over 85,000 copies. 'The Moon is Missing', is a domestic suspense/family drama set partly in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Before I wrote fiction, I was a clinical neuropsychologist, which I also loved (but we move through different stages in our lives; the important thing is always to have a passion) and became well-known for my books featuring my amazing patients’ moving stories: 'Fractured Minds: A Case-Study Approach to Clinical Neuropsychology', and 'Trouble In Mind: Stories from a Neuropsychologist’s Casebook'. (The same sort of tales that the late and great Oliver Sacks was known for.)
I'd love to send you my very occasional e-newsletter so I can share my off-grid tales and favorite books with you! To sign up, go to https://tinyurl.com/2u736m6c. On the way you’ll come across my author page (www.jenniogdenauthor.com). And do follow me on Goodreads, and indeed, friend and follow me wherever you hang out!
I'd love to send you my very occasional e-newsletter so I can share my off-grid tales and favorite books with you! To sign up, go to https://tinyurl.com/2u736m6c. On the way you’ll come across my author page (www.jenniogdenauthor.com). And do follow me on Goodreads, and indeed, friend and follow me wherever you hang out!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 13, 2012
Jenni Ogden’s Trouble in Mind pulls you into the lives of several individuals with vastly different brain disorders. Each personal story flows effortlessly, with clinical information presented so accessibly, that it’s easy to forget you are reading a doctor’s casebook! Several times I found myself shaking my head in disbelief or exhaling deeply at the oddball diagnosis or sheer enormity of the challenges these individuals faced, yet Ogden captures each person's essence and inner self in a way that is truly insightful and captivating.
Reading Trouble in Mind is a great way to learn about the human brain from a human perspective, as told by the kind of compassionate neuropsychologist (and woman) we would all like to call a friend.
I particularly liked hearing about each patient’s personal life and how he or she navigated the world in his or her specific condition. I felt a special bond with one young woman, and rejoiced with her when I learned that an operation I never knew existed allowed her to remain seizure-free and have the children she so longed to bear. This is an engaging, informative book that teaches, inspires, and ultimately makes you grateful for your own miraculous brain. Great read!
Reading Trouble in Mind is a great way to learn about the human brain from a human perspective, as told by the kind of compassionate neuropsychologist (and woman) we would all like to call a friend.
I particularly liked hearing about each patient’s personal life and how he or she navigated the world in his or her specific condition. I felt a special bond with one young woman, and rejoiced with her when I learned that an operation I never knew existed allowed her to remain seizure-free and have the children she so longed to bear. This is an engaging, informative book that teaches, inspires, and ultimately makes you grateful for your own miraculous brain. Great read!
April 20, 2022
Read this for my neuropsych class and loved it for the most part. Super digestible way to learn about pathologies. She also takes a patient-focused approach which is the kinda healthcare I’m tryna do if that’s what I end up doing hahahaha lololol I have no clue
March 16, 2012
As I wrote in my review for "Fractured Minds" it does not seem appropriate to put a star quality against one's own book! However, I note that many authors do give their own books 5 stars, perhaps just to get the reviewing started... Also having spent blood, sweat and possibly even tears over writing it, deep down authors may truly score it as amazing. And to write a book and see it published is certainly no mean achievement. Nevertheless, my only way of rationalizing this 5-star review is by virtue of the truly amazing stories that belong not to me but to the people whose stories they are. I can't rate how well I've portrayed them—only readers can do that— but I can rate every person in this book—neurological patients and their families and friends— as truly amazing. Every one of them began as an "ordinary" person, and went on to become extraordinary. I can only hope I have done justice to their courage, perseverance and positive spirit.
September 29, 2013
This Australian edition of "Trouble In Mind" published by Scribe Publications differs from the Oxford University Press, New York, edition in that it begins with a brief preface and then goes straight to the case studies, and the original Introductory chapter on the basics of clinical neuropsychology and neuroanatomy are included as appendices at the end. It has UK/Australian spelling and a striking new cover, and as well as in trade paperback is available as a Kindle, Kobo and iBook (at least to Australian and New Zealand readers).
December 13, 2025
I picked up this book randomly after getting interested by its tagline "Stories from Neuropsychologist's Casebook". It was not quite the field of interest for me but I still like reading about Psychology.
The book was published in 2012 first. The author from New Zealand has a PhD in Psychology and worked as a practitioner in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology.
It starts off by giving an overview of brain disorders and the commonality of it in our lives. Where you likely know someone with a brain disorder.
There are 13 unique stories of people as patients of neuropsychology. All having some "Trouble In Mind", like the namesake of this book. From having stroke to epilepsy. Half a brain to dementia. It has all the major types of brain illness and injuries that one can look into.
Almost all the stories are traumatic. Though they offer a unique insight from a research point of view.
Some of the cases included;
- An artist who developed hemineglect (Where damage to one side of the brain ignored visual space opposite to its side).
- A girl who at the age of 15 had to have Hemispherectomy (Removing left side of the brain) to reduce 25 a day seizures
- A young man who suffered from Broca's Aphasia (Difficulty in speech, writing and language in general).
- A family who went through Huntington's Disease (Inherited disorder that causes neurons in parts of brain to slowly die).
One of my favorite cases that I will talk about is Henry Molaison, H.M in short (Man who was the most studied single case in history). H.M. used to suffer from epileptic seizures and at the age of 27, had both his hippocampus removed. Hippocampus is very much the memory part of brain. So H.M. was left with reduced seizures but also with the loss of memory. In fact he couldn't remember anything beyond the age of 16 and was unable to form new memories as well. He would understand what you are saying but won't remember anything 5 minutes later. He was essentially stuck in time. Till his death at the age of 82, he was mostly unaware of what had happened.
Another story that had a lasting impact on me, was a motorcycle enthusiast Michael. Who at the age of 24 crashed into a Tree with his bike in a freak accident. It left him cortically blind. Not from the eyes but from the damage to the visual cortex of the occipital lobes (backside of brain). It took many years for Michael to gain much of the visual ability and when he did improved somewhat. His only desire was to go on a road trip with his friend on bikes. Despite his mother warning against it for the fear of another accident. Michael went on the road trip where, (you guessed it!) he was involved in another accident and broke his leg.
Michael's words were: "I had to have more surgery but man, it was worth it!".
It was interesting to see how these disorders directly affect personality of a person. Where one can actually go from sad to happy or happy to depressed.
Aside from the stories of these individuals. Whats remarkable to learn is how intricate, sophisticated and adaptable your Brain actually is. It also gives a thorough understanding of the bridge between the Mind (concept) and Brain (physical). It was fascinating to learn how damage to one hemisphere (side) of the brain leads to physical complication on the other side of the body.
The book has a nice appendix at the end explaining on clinical neuropsychology and brain anatomy.
You really get to see up close the case working of an individual from first point of contact till the last. The author really does a good job in presenting the case in a chronological order of the individual's life. The interesting psychological assessment tests to family therapy sessions.
Actually family therapy is one of the most important things because brain disorders leave not only the victim in abyss but also its family. Where every individual of a family has to abruptly change their lifestyle and potentially cope with this new relationship dynamics and environment at home. I was pleasantly surprised how well the psychologist (author) navigated the families in these cases. A thorough professional.
Now that I think about it. The book actually goes into in-depth details of many of the brain disorders that were talked about through various cases in this book. It clears a lot of misconception about brain disorders and the working of the brain in general.
I think if you are a psychology student or have an interest in psychology and want to specialize in neuropsychology. This is the kind of book that you want to read to know if you want to become a neuropsychologist or not.
To sum it all up if you are a student or have an interest in psychology. I think this is a great book that actually gives you practical overview of cases and importantly how to conduct such cases as a Therapist.
The book was published in 2012 first. The author from New Zealand has a PhD in Psychology and worked as a practitioner in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology.
It starts off by giving an overview of brain disorders and the commonality of it in our lives. Where you likely know someone with a brain disorder.
There are 13 unique stories of people as patients of neuropsychology. All having some "Trouble In Mind", like the namesake of this book. From having stroke to epilepsy. Half a brain to dementia. It has all the major types of brain illness and injuries that one can look into.
Almost all the stories are traumatic. Though they offer a unique insight from a research point of view.
Some of the cases included;
- An artist who developed hemineglect (Where damage to one side of the brain ignored visual space opposite to its side).
- A girl who at the age of 15 had to have Hemispherectomy (Removing left side of the brain) to reduce 25 a day seizures
- A young man who suffered from Broca's Aphasia (Difficulty in speech, writing and language in general).
- A family who went through Huntington's Disease (Inherited disorder that causes neurons in parts of brain to slowly die).
One of my favorite cases that I will talk about is Henry Molaison, H.M in short (Man who was the most studied single case in history). H.M. used to suffer from epileptic seizures and at the age of 27, had both his hippocampus removed. Hippocampus is very much the memory part of brain. So H.M. was left with reduced seizures but also with the loss of memory. In fact he couldn't remember anything beyond the age of 16 and was unable to form new memories as well. He would understand what you are saying but won't remember anything 5 minutes later. He was essentially stuck in time. Till his death at the age of 82, he was mostly unaware of what had happened.
Another story that had a lasting impact on me, was a motorcycle enthusiast Michael. Who at the age of 24 crashed into a Tree with his bike in a freak accident. It left him cortically blind. Not from the eyes but from the damage to the visual cortex of the occipital lobes (backside of brain). It took many years for Michael to gain much of the visual ability and when he did improved somewhat. His only desire was to go on a road trip with his friend on bikes. Despite his mother warning against it for the fear of another accident. Michael went on the road trip where, (you guessed it!) he was involved in another accident and broke his leg.
Michael's words were: "I had to have more surgery but man, it was worth it!".
It was interesting to see how these disorders directly affect personality of a person. Where one can actually go from sad to happy or happy to depressed.
Aside from the stories of these individuals. Whats remarkable to learn is how intricate, sophisticated and adaptable your Brain actually is. It also gives a thorough understanding of the bridge between the Mind (concept) and Brain (physical). It was fascinating to learn how damage to one hemisphere (side) of the brain leads to physical complication on the other side of the body.
The book has a nice appendix at the end explaining on clinical neuropsychology and brain anatomy.
You really get to see up close the case working of an individual from first point of contact till the last. The author really does a good job in presenting the case in a chronological order of the individual's life. The interesting psychological assessment tests to family therapy sessions.
Actually family therapy is one of the most important things because brain disorders leave not only the victim in abyss but also its family. Where every individual of a family has to abruptly change their lifestyle and potentially cope with this new relationship dynamics and environment at home. I was pleasantly surprised how well the psychologist (author) navigated the families in these cases. A thorough professional.
Now that I think about it. The book actually goes into in-depth details of many of the brain disorders that were talked about through various cases in this book. It clears a lot of misconception about brain disorders and the working of the brain in general.
I think if you are a psychology student or have an interest in psychology and want to specialize in neuropsychology. This is the kind of book that you want to read to know if you want to become a neuropsychologist or not.
To sum it all up if you are a student or have an interest in psychology. I think this is a great book that actually gives you practical overview of cases and importantly how to conduct such cases as a Therapist.
November 8, 2019
This is an absolutely brilliant book, and feels more like a storytelling than a non-fiction which makes it very readable!
This book is a great way to learn about the human brain from the perspective of a kind and compassionate neuropsychologist, Jenni Ordgen.
This book is a good blend of neuroscience and psychology as it not only takes you through the technical aspects of the disease, but also through the minds of the the sufferers and how they come to terms with the disease, their back stories and how families and professionals work together to support them.
Jenny takes you through some really interesting and fascinating case studies in neuropsychology which are explained in a rather simple and accessible manner, which makes it suitable for not only healthcare professionals, but also laypeople.
I highly recommend this book if you're interested in how the brain works!
This book is a great way to learn about the human brain from the perspective of a kind and compassionate neuropsychologist, Jenni Ordgen.
This book is a good blend of neuroscience and psychology as it not only takes you through the technical aspects of the disease, but also through the minds of the the sufferers and how they come to terms with the disease, their back stories and how families and professionals work together to support them.
Jenny takes you through some really interesting and fascinating case studies in neuropsychology which are explained in a rather simple and accessible manner, which makes it suitable for not only healthcare professionals, but also laypeople.
I highly recommend this book if you're interested in how the brain works!
October 8, 2019
Nice collection of case studies that provide good descriptions and background information of the various patients, rather than just focusing on the neuropsych data. The cases are much more typical of what a neuropsychologist would see in practice, rather than the rare and bizarre ones you read about with Oliver Sachs. Good book for students to help them understand various disorders.
April 22, 2022
I read this book for class and ended up enjoying it a lot. Ogden writes about a series of case studies and manages to portray each one from a more humanistic point of view. A lot of the stories were heartbreaking, but served as reminders for why I want to go into this field.
February 12, 2019
New Zealand author, Jenni Ogden, has taught, researched and practised in the fields of clinical psychology and neuropsychology for 27 years. Now, in her fascinating new book Trouble in Mind: Stories from a Neuropsychologist’s Casebook, she shares some her most remarkable experiences – and patients.
In Ogden’s previous text, Fractured Minds: a case-study approach to clinical psychology, she shared some of her more unusual cases from her time spent working in some of the world’s leading hospital. This was a book aimed at students and professionals working in the field of psychology. In Trouble in Mind Ogden revisits many of these cases but this time her book will appeal equally to students and professionals, to those living with or supporting someone with a brain disorder, and to readers who merely have an interest in this topic.
Reading like a memoir, Ogden maintains a real sense of intimacy as she tells the stories of 15 patients living with brain injuries and disorders. This is a topic that has the potential to be quite dry, but Ogden uses these patients as the foundation for exploring it. We learn about the individual people she encountered as much as about the brain injuries they presented with, and through understanding their individual experiences we, as readers, are given some insight into the human brain and how it works.
What makes Trouble in Mind particularly appealing is how personal it is. When we have known someone with a disorder or disease, when we have seen how it has affected them, the person, we come away with a true notion of the impact and effect of the disorder. What better way then to explain neuropsychology than through the real-life stories of Ogden’s patients?
As I read her sensitive accounts I felt I knew these people learning to cope with the unexpected, I laughed with them and empathised for them and their families. I encountered individuals with Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, and those with aphasia, hemineglect and epilepsy. Some had inherited diseases and others had endured brain injuries due to accidents. All of them were utterly relatable.
In amidst her patients’ stories, Ogden effortlessly weaves in the science of the brain, its functions and what happens when things go wrong. She does so in a way that keeps a potentially dry topic interesting, and in a way that is clear and understandable, regardless of your previous knowledge on the subject.
If her goal was accessibility, Ogden has achieved this. For whatever reason you are interested, whether personal or academic, Trouble in Mind will offer you new insights into the workings of the brain.
In Ogden’s previous text, Fractured Minds: a case-study approach to clinical psychology, she shared some of her more unusual cases from her time spent working in some of the world’s leading hospital. This was a book aimed at students and professionals working in the field of psychology. In Trouble in Mind Ogden revisits many of these cases but this time her book will appeal equally to students and professionals, to those living with or supporting someone with a brain disorder, and to readers who merely have an interest in this topic.
Reading like a memoir, Ogden maintains a real sense of intimacy as she tells the stories of 15 patients living with brain injuries and disorders. This is a topic that has the potential to be quite dry, but Ogden uses these patients as the foundation for exploring it. We learn about the individual people she encountered as much as about the brain injuries they presented with, and through understanding their individual experiences we, as readers, are given some insight into the human brain and how it works.
What makes Trouble in Mind particularly appealing is how personal it is. When we have known someone with a disorder or disease, when we have seen how it has affected them, the person, we come away with a true notion of the impact and effect of the disorder. What better way then to explain neuropsychology than through the real-life stories of Ogden’s patients?
As I read her sensitive accounts I felt I knew these people learning to cope with the unexpected, I laughed with them and empathised for them and their families. I encountered individuals with Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, and those with aphasia, hemineglect and epilepsy. Some had inherited diseases and others had endured brain injuries due to accidents. All of them were utterly relatable.
In amidst her patients’ stories, Ogden effortlessly weaves in the science of the brain, its functions and what happens when things go wrong. She does so in a way that keeps a potentially dry topic interesting, and in a way that is clear and understandable, regardless of your previous knowledge on the subject.
If her goal was accessibility, Ogden has achieved this. For whatever reason you are interested, whether personal or academic, Trouble in Mind will offer you new insights into the workings of the brain.
December 3, 2012
Loved this. A great way to learn a bit about neuroscience through real people's stories. As absorbing as a novel, and very compassionately told.
May 29, 2014
Interesting case studies on what can go wrong when the brain is damaged. After over 20 years of ME, I could relate to some of the brain issues even if I don't actually have any brain damage.
June 7, 2015
Informative/inspirational stories in digestible chunks. It's so crazy how brains sometimes (don't) work.
July 7, 2024
beautifully illustrates the “human” in human neuropsychology
July 28, 2015
i wish that neuroscience (and associated topics) are studied like this...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews