Child Psychopathology Ch. 4

Front 1

behavior analysis or functional analysis of behavior

Back 1

-identify factors of problem:
-behavior
-thoughts
-feelings

-develop hypotheses about which ones are the most important and/or most easily changed.

Front 2

behavioral assessment

Back 2

evaluation of:

-thoughts
-feelings
-behaviors

in specific settings, based on which hypotheses are formulated about the nature of the problem and what can be done about it.

Front 3

categorical classification

Back 3

The diagnostic systems that are primarily based on informed professional consensus, which is an approach that has dominated and continues to dominate the field of child (and adult) psychopathology.

Front 4

classification

Back 4

A system for representing the major categories or dimensions of child psychopathology, and the boundaries and relations among them. One definition of diagnosis is the assignment of cases to categories of the classification system.

Front 5

clinical assessment

Back 5

A process of differentiating, defining, and measuring the behaviors, cognitions, and emotions that are of concern, as well as the environmental circumstances that may be contributing to these problems.

Front 6

clinical description

Back 6

A summary of unique behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that together make up the features of a given psychological disorder.

Front 7

developmental history or family history

Back 7

Information obtained from the parents about potentially significant historical milestones and events that might have a bearing on the child's current difficulties.

Front 8

developmental tests

Back 8

Tests used to assess infants and young children that are generally carried out for the purposes of screening, diagnosis, and evaluation of early development.

Front 9

diagnosis

Back 9

The identification of a disorder from an examination of the symptoms.

Front 10

dimensional classification

Back 10

An empirically based approach to the diagnosis and classification of child psychopathology which assumes that there are a number of independent dimensions or traits of behavior and that all children possess these to varying degrees.

Front 11

eclectic

Back 11

-different approaches for different problems and circumstances

Front 12

idiographic

Back 12

An approach to case formulation or assessment that emphasizes the detailed representation of the individual child or family as a unique entity. This approach is in contrast to the nomothetic approach, which instead emphasizes the general laws that apply to all individuals.

Front 13

intervention

Back 13

A broad concept that encompasses many different theories and methods with a range of problem-solving strategies directed at helping the child and family adapt more effectively to their current and future circumstances.

Front 14

maintenance

Back 14

Efforts to increase adherence to treatment over time in order to prevent a relapse or recurrence of a problem.

Front 15

mental status exam

Back 15

-assessment of general mental functioning

-interview in which questions are asked and systematic observations of the subject are made in the areas of

-appearance
-behavior
-thought processes
-mood
-affect
-intellectual functioning
-sensorium

Front 16

multiaxial system

Back 16

A classification system consisting of several different domains (axes) of information about the subject that may assist a clinician in planning the treatment of a disorder. The DSM-IV is an example of a multiaxial classification system.

Front 17

multimethod assessment approach

Back 17

A clinical assessment that emphasizes the importance of obtaining information from different informants, in a variety of settings, using a variety of procedures that include interviews, observations, questionnaires, and tests.

Front 18

neuropsychological assessment

Back 18

A form of assessment that attempts to link brain functioning with objective measures of behavior known to depend on an intact central nervous system.

Front 19

nomothetic

Back 19

An approach to case formulation or assessment that emphasizes general principles that apply to all people. This approach contrasts with the idiographic approach, which instead emphasizes a detailed representation of the individual or family as a unique entity.

Front 20

prevention

Back 20

Activities directed at decreasing the chances that undesired future outcomes will occur.

Front 21

prognosis

Back 21

The prediction of the course or outcome of a disorder.

Front 22

screening

Back 22

Identification of subjects at risk for a specific negative outcome.

Front 23

semistructured interviews

Back 23

Interviews that include specific questions designed to elicit information in a relatively consistent manner regardless of who is doing the interview. The interview format usually ensures that the most important aspects of a particular disorder are covered.

Front 24

target behaviors

Back 24

Behaviors that are the primary problems of concern.

Front 25

test

Back 25

A task or set of tasks given under standard conditions with the purpose of assessing some aspect of the subject's knowledge, skill, personality, or condition.

Front 26

treatment

Back 26

Corrective actions that will permit successful adaptation by eliminating or reducing the impact of an undesired outcome that has already occurred.

Front 27

treatment planning

Back 27

The process of using assessment information to generate a treatment plan and evaluate its effectiveness.