Provides critical examination of research published during past ten years addressing Conduct Disorder (CD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and internalizing disorders. Concludes comorbidity varies with age, gender, informant, diagnostic criteria, and nature of the sample. Implications of comorbidity…

Presents and evaluates the developmentally based taxonomy reflected in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders category of conduct disorder (CD). Focuses on subtypes of CD; pathways to CD; individual factors influencing development, such as age, gender, intellectual performance, neuropsychological difficulties, and temperament;…

To determine whether the preponderance of males in classrooms for the learning disabled (LD) constitutes sexual discrimination, an objective index involving the discrepancy between expected and actual achievement was calculated for each student. No evidence was found to indicate sexual bias in diagnostic and placement practices. (Author/ABB)

Reviews assumptions, potential uses and misuses, research base, and developmental goodness of fit of behavioral and cognitive approaches to the treatment of childhood depression. Empirical data and rational analysis based on developmental considerations are used in evaluating the merits of the various therapeutic approaches. Implications for…

Examined the diagnostic utility of two patterns of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised in differentiating 64 emotionally impaired children (ages 5 to 18) from 290 controls. Data analysis showed neither the high similarities-low information or verbal-performance discrepancy patterns yielded a useful rule for diagnosing emotional…

Examines limitations of standard scores of achievement tests used in diagnosing learning disabilities. Consideration of these limitations is important in deciding whether a marked discrepancy exists between ability and achievement. Recommends use of developmental standard scores over status standard scores. (Author/ABB)

Reviews existing definitions of childhood depression and their implications for diagnosis. Evaluates better known self-report inventories, parent rating scales, psychiatric interviewing schedules, and peer nomination techniques. Addresses diagnostic issues associated with reliability, validity, consistency across raters, settings, and time and…

Compared Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT) to determine K-ABC's utility in determination of a severe discrepancy for learning disabilities classification. Found that K-ABC and WISC-R/PIAT approaches to the determination of a…

Public Law 94-142 denies socially maladjusted students services for the seriously emotionally impaired unless determined these students are seriously emotionally disturbed; thus practitioners must be able to reliably distinguish between these two conditions. Developed a set of items to differentiate between these two groups. Eleven items met the…

Examines whether individual intelligence tests such as the WISC-R are biased against Hispanic school-aged children. Discusses three common but faulty notions of test bias, and advances a psychometric definition of bias. Analyzes evidence regarding external and internal validity. Presents guidelines for intellectual assessment of bilingual…

Reviews some better known Piagetian scales; analyzes and compares Piagetian-based and conventional intelligence measures. Reviews research comparing the two methods and examines whether racial groups' performance differs on Piagetian measures. Discusses the implications of Piagetian assessment procedures for school psychologists. (Author/RC)

Reviews the current research and clinical views on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in school-age youth which, although not a high prevalence problem, is a greatly underrecognized condition. Discussion focuses on differentiation from normality and related psychopathological disorders, biological and psychological factors in etiology, school…

Reviews research on major behavior disorders in children for school psychologists who are required to evaluate severity of such disorders. Review suggests five criteria by which severity of children's behavior disorders can be evaluated: age of onset, number of settings in which problem occurs, number of coexisting disorders, pattern of problem,…

Examined how emerging body of knowledge regarding nature, prevalence, assessment, and treatment of childhood depression compares with perceptions and practices of school psychologists. Identified need for school psychologists to define concept of childhood depression. Advocates use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (third…

Several controversies surround differentiation between socially maladjusted and seriously emotionally disturbed. Central to controversy is interpretation of social maladjustment as restricted to include socialized aggressive and adjudicated delinquents or broadened to include Conduct Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and antisocial…