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…
Disorders of Communication and Language BACKGROUND The ability to communicate at a very high level by a wide range of modalities—including spoken language, facial expression, tone of voice, and gesture—is…
Autism Spectrum Disorder BACKGROUND Leo Kanner’s (1943) first explicit description of the syndrome of early infantile autism remains a “classic.” He described 11 children who had two common features: “autism”…
Intellectual Disability BACKGROUND There has been an awareness of children with significant problems in learning and development since ancient times. Individuals with less severe impairments were more easily included in…
An Overview of Treatment Approaches INTRODUCTION The modern history of treatment for psychological and psychiatric problems is often viewed as beginning with the work of Freud in the late 19th…
Classification and Assessment PRINCIPLES OF CLASSIFICATION Classification helps us to be better observers and to formulate hypotheses and principles. Shared approaches to classification help us communicate more effectively and develop…
Scientific Foundations of the Field INTRODUCTION As we discussed in Chapter 1, the field of developmental psychopathology has diverse roots and origins. In this chapter, we discuss some aspects of…
Perspectives from Typical Child Development INTRODUCTION Development occurs throughout the life cycle, and although we frequently focus on some particular aspect of development (cognitive, motor, and so on), in reality…
An Introduction to Developmental Psychopathology: History, Theory, and Methods HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES The field of child mental health in general and developmental psychopathology in particular is a relatively recent one. Work…
