This book examines the relationship between adolescent risk-taking behaviors and health. The health-related problems of adolescents frequently are manifestations of social, economic, or behavioral factors. Following an overview (Siegal), the chapters in the first section of the book explore general and conceptual issues: (1) "Epidemiology of Adolescent Health Disorders" (Holden and Nitz); (2) "Developmental Influences on Adolescent Health" (Sayer, Hauser, Jacobson, Willett, and Cole); (3) "Theoretical Models of Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior" (Millstein and Igra); (4) "Legal Issues in Adolescent Health Care" (Weisz and Melton). Following an overview (Wallander), the chapters in the second section examine current research and clinical perspectives on health-risk and prevention behaviors: (5) "Adolescent Suicide Attempters in General Hospitals: Psychological Evaluation and Disposition Handling" (Spirito, Overholser, and Vinnick); (6) "Adolescents: The Leading Edge of the Next Wave of the HIV Epidemic" (DiLorenzo and Hein); (7) "Social-Psychological Antecedents and Consequences of Adolescent Tobacco Use" (Chassin, Presson, and Sherman); (8) "Coping and Competence in Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use" (Wills, Vaccaro, and Benson); (9) "Health Promotion with Adolescents" (Kelder, Parcel, and Perry). Following an overview (Wallander), the chapters in the third section examine current research and clinical perspectives on chronic physical conditions: (10) "Appraisal, Coping, and Adjustment in Adolescents with a Physical Disability" (Wallander and Varni); (11)"Psychological Adjustment of Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis or Sickle Cell Disease and Their Mothers" (Thompson, Gustafson, and Gil); (12) "School-Based Treatment of Recurrent Headaches in Adolescents" (Larsson); (13) "Managing Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Adolescence: A Developmental Perspective" (Johnson); and (14) "Family Adaptation to Diabetes: A Model for Intervention Research" (Wysocki, White, Bubb, Harris, and Greco). Each of the chapters contains references. (HTH)