Article examines the diagnosis and assessment of self-injurious behaviors. A classification model for conceptualizing self-injury is discussed, and the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" diagnoses associated with self-injury are addressed. Assessment questions and issues to consider when assessing clients who…

Purposes of the study were to determine the type and format of information pediatricians receive from schools regarding diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), their preferences for this information, and their opinions on referral rates and treatment. The majority of pediatricians believe schools overrefer and…

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a disorder characterized by multiple involuntary motor and verbal tics. This review covers the history, symptoms, diagnostic criteria, past and present treatments, associated disorders, and various educational techniques. (Author/DB)

Investigates the validity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) instrument in two studies. Results reveal that the SASSI effectively discriminated between an at-risk high school group and clients of a residential treatment center. However, agreement of SASSI classification with clinical diagnosis was only 62%, and Kappa…

Reviews the literature on some of the issues that have been proposed as controversial with the diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Discusses the issues of comorbidity that questions the validity of the diagnosis; dimensional models of classification and what constitutes a narcissistic personality disorder; and the role that culture…

Comments on fiction writer Derek Humphry's short story "Final Exit," in which an elderly couple commits double suicide. Notes the story could serve as a suicide manual for the nonterminal elderly. Asserts that fiction highlights the ambiguities surrounding elder suicide and serves as a reminder to view elder suicide in the context of…

This article reviews reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a symptom complex caused by a minor injury and characterized by pain, vasomotor and trophic disregulation, and motor impairments. Both an acute stage and a chronic stage are described. Implications for diagnosis, prevention of disabilities, and development of rehabilitation strategies are…

Contends that spiritual dark night and some forms of psychological depression share commonalties yet have distinctly different features that call for different responses from caregivers. Presents comparisons between the two phenomena; highlights differences between them to offer counselors guidelines for making informed responses to their clients'…

Provides a review of current knowledge on the assessment and diagnosis of anxiety disorders classified in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Emphasis is on the recognition of anxiety as a dominant symptom, frameworks for determining specific anxiety disorders, and patterns of comorbitity. (Author/GCP)

Five rating scales for screening and detection of Asperger's Disorder, three commercially available and two research instruments, are evaluated with reference to psychometric criteria outlined by Bracken in 1987 ("Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment," 4, 313). Reliability and validity data reported in examiner's manuals or published reports…

Background: Pediatric obesity is a significant public health concern, with rising prevalence rates in both developed and developing countries. This is of particular significance given that overweight children and adolescents are at increased risk for multiple medical comorbidities, as well as psychosocial and behavioral difficulties. The current…

Background: The aim in treating epilepsy is to minimise or control seizures with full respect of quality-of-life issues, especially of cognitive functions. Optimal treatment first demands a correct recognition of the major type of seizures, followed by a correct diagnosis of the type of epilepsy or of the specific syndrome. Methods: Review of data…

This brief article uses a question and answer format to review basic information about medical management of children with attention deficit disorders (ADD). Questions address: characteristics of ADD; how parents and teachers can tell if a child might have ADD; types of services and programs which help these children and their families;…

Aggressive and antisocial behavior have persisted as significant social problems. In response, a voluminous amount of research has been generated in an attempt to discover the causes of such behavior. Previous studies have examined separately the role of perinatal biology in the etiology of violent criminal behavior and the etiology of Anti-Social…

Rorschach's use of inkblots as a diagnostic tool has been quite useful in aiding in the diagnosis of schizophrenia. In developing his Comprehensive System for the Rorschach, John Exner (1974) included an index designed to identify schizophrenic subjects. The Schizophrenia Index has evolved to reflect ongoing research. In its current state, the…