An approach to the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders is presented that considers the difficulties in relationships and communication secondary to sensory and motor processing deficits. These difficulties are conceptualized as Multisystem Developmental Disorder (MSDD), and case vignettes illustrate typical patterns of MSDD and…

This study examined self-assessments of 40 medical residents and competence expectations of 4 primary care internal medicine faculty and 10 medical specialty faculty. Specialty faculty members reported higher expectations for diagnostic performance than did faculty in primary care. Involvement of residents and faculty members in developing…

This study analyzed diagnostic profiles of 151 children with disabilities receiving Head Start services. Three clinical clusters emerged which described the children along demographic, developmental/medical, family/home, and academic dimensions. Far more children with learning disabilities (26%) and serious emotional disturbances (29%) were…

A study compared effects of two methods of teaching geriatric dentistry: traditional approach based on readings, and computer-assisted simulation of patient interaction and clinical decision making. Although subjects (n=20) showed no significant differences by treatment, computer-trained students had statistically nonsignificant higher performance…

Reviews concerns related to diagnoses in delivery of mental health services, specifically, application of the principles of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-III-R) to African-American children. An alternative diagnostic model is proposed, and recommendations are made for enhancing the diagnostic process. (SLD)

Mental health services are delivered to children in many settings, including inpatient psychiatric facilities. In 1997, over 280,000 children and adolescents were admitted to inpatient psychiatric settings for services related to emotional or behavioral disorders. Building a bridge between hospital and school professionals is necessary to maintain…

Objective: The aim of this follow-up study was to investigate the course of performance in attentional tasks in children with ADHD and normal controls in late childhood and preadolescence over short periods of time. The development of two dimensions of attention was compared: alertness/arousal and inhibitory control. Method: Children with ADHD (N…

Background: Most studies of the effects of trauma on mental health have generally not separately assessed psychosocial functioning, and in those that have key issues have received little attention, such as the relation between the time courses of the two kinds of outcome, and detailed assessment of social functioning in a range of domains. The…

The purpose of this research was to examine the educational experiences of individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the elements of a successful school experience. Eleven parents and seven children participated in this qualitative study. Data was collected using questionnaires and in-depth semi-structured interviews.…

Promote the mental health of preschool children in care by providing nurturing environments and relationships. Common Psychological Disorders in Young Children is an easy-to-use guide that will help providers recognize and cope with the symptoms and behaviors associated with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and other disorders providers may face. Learn to…

This report details the development of computer software to teach English-as-a-Second-Language skills for medical diagnosis. Design of a prototype unit of multimedia materials using a common authoring tool required about 300 hours of work over a period of 9 months. The report describes the overall design of the courseware, hardware used, stages of…

This monograph examines the particular problems that can beset creative children when their behaviors are mistaken for the frequently diagnosed psychoeducational condition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A brief history of ADHD is given, tracing the difficulty that researchers have experienced in defining and accurately…

This monograph presents 11 papers on a study of the problem of specific diagnosis with children who do not communicate effectively. About 500 children with inadequate communication skills, selected as having a developmental language disorder, autism, or low IQ without autistic features, were studied by a multidisciplinary team. Data collected…

The relationship construct between physicians and patients was explored in the context of medical education and evaluation focusing on the clinical performance of third-year medical students. The Relationship Instrument, a performance-based assessment, was constructed to measure interpersonal and communication skills of the physician interacting…

This article addresses the problem of ascertaining the most suitable learning environment for learning diagnostic skills in health education--specifically diagnostic reasoning and the selection of therapy--through the design, development, and evaluation of a videodisc program. It describes the design, development, and formative evaluation of a…