Somatic Symptoms and Somatoform Disorders BACKGROUND Persistent somatic symptoms and complaints are present in many children and adolescents and cause both suffering and functional impairment (Dell & Campo, 2011; Marwah…
Eating and Feeding Disorders BACKGROUND Eating is of obvious and critical importance to the development, health, and, indeed, the survival of children. Eating is among the very earliest of the…
Tic Disorders BACKGROUND Tics are sudden, repetitive movements and vocalizations that typically are brief but occur in bouts. For example, blinking, nose twitching, and rapid jerking of any part of…
Childhood Schizophrenia and Childhood Psychosis BACKGROUND Interest in psychotic disorders in childhood is a relatively recent historical phenomenon. As commonly used, the term psychotic can itself be problematic given the…
Depressive and Bipolar Disorders BACKGROUND Although described in adults since antiquity, depressive disorders were only recognized in children beginning in the 1980s. Until that time, it was assumed, largely for…
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder BACKGROUND Metaphors used to describe the human brain, such as that of a highly efficient computer, often convey an image of impeccable organization and control. Yet the thoughts,…
Anxiety Disorders BACKGROUND Human beings, like all other organisms, are equipped with systems for the detection of potentially harmful stimuli and for differentiating between that which is harmful and that…
Oppositional Defiant and Conduct Disorders For developing children, the abilities to learn self-control and to modulate aggressive impulses are important developmental tasks. This learning is fostered by the social contexts…
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder BACKGROUND Children with difficulties in attention and impulsivity have been recognized since the mid-1800s when compulsory school attendance became the rule. The 19th-century book Struwwelpeter, a “morality” book…
Learning Disabilities and Developmental Coordination Disorder LEARNING DISABILITIES BACKGROUND Interest in what now are termed the learning disabilities began in the 19th century with the increased emphasis on universal public…
