Child Psychopathology

Notwithstanding the dramatic changes taking place in mental health care delivery systems, it is imperative that child mental health care not be overlooked. Drs. Mash and Barkley are known internationally for their significant contributions to the field of clinical child psychology and child psychiatry. Child Psychopathology constitutes another important effort by these editors in the area of child mental health care, namely, childhood disorders.

The editors' intention was to have mental health professionals with significant expertise in a particular childhood disorder provide a current and comprehensive overview of the nature of the disorder based on the research literature, not focusing on clinical concerns such as assessment and treatment. They asked the 31 contributors to follow an outline in order to answer the question "What do we know about this disorder?" The editors have accomplished their goal such that the nature of the disorders are discussed in detail.

Overall, the 16 chapters are comprehensive, clear, well organized, and scholarly. The first of the book's six sections is an informative introductory chapter by Dr. Mash and David Dozois. The chapter discusses important themes and issues in understanding childhood psychopathology and presents a developmental-systems perspective. Each chapter in this volume stands on its own, but the introductory chapter provides a good foundation for the rest of the book and should be read before any others.

The second section, on behavior disorders, consists of a chapter on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and one on conduct and oppositional defiant disorders. In his well-written chapter, Dr. Barkley discusses his new theoretical model of ADHD. Because of the prevalence of this disorder, it is imperative that child clinicians are up to date on it.

Section 3 focuses on emotional and social disorders. The four chapters address childhood depression, childhood anxiety disorders, childhood posttraumatic stress disorder, and social withdrawal. The chapter on childhood posttraumatic stress disorder is particularly interesting, considering the need for a more extensive understanding of this disorder. In the fourth section, on developmental and learning disorders, the chapters cover autism, childhood-onset schizophrenia, mental retardation, learning disabilities, and tic disorders.

Section 5 concerns infants and children at risk for disorders. The two chapters in this section address risk during infancy and toddlerhood and child maltreatment. The chapter on infancy and toddlerhood fills a void, consistent with recent national attention to early risk and the rise of early-intervention training programs.

The final two-chapter section focuses on health disorders, including eating disorders. The chapter on health-related disorders is particularly relevant for mental health professionals such as pediatric psychologists who help children manage psychosocial issues associated with medically related difficulties.

In all, the breadth and depth of coverage concerning childhood psychopathology are quite remarkable. Although treatment issues are not addressed, this substantial reference certainly can inform the clinical practice of child mental health professionals. Moreover, it can be a valuable resource for clinical supervisors, graduate school instructors, researchers, and graduate students interested in clinical child psychology and child psychiatry. Child Psychopathology may become a classic in the field.

Dr. Edwards is assistant professor of psychology at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland.