In Childhood Disorders, Philip C. Kendall provides an up-to-date summary of the current information about the psychological disorders of childhood - their causes, nature and course - together with discussion and evaluation of the major models that guide psychological thinking about the disorders. Drawing on the research literature and case studies from his own clinical work, Kendall describes each of the major childhood disorders. He goes on to give a detailed consideration of the criteria used to make the diagnoses, a presentation of the latest research findings on the nature of the disorder, and an overview of the methods used and evaluations conducted for the treatment of the disorders.
Throughout, the range of normal behavioural variations is set as the backdrop against which to make judgements about psychological disorders, and the role of the family in the onset and course of psychological difficulties is explored. Within the coverage of the treatments of childhood disorders, emphasis is placed upon those treatments that have been empirically evaluated and found to be effective in producing beneficial change for the children. In the end, a series of provocative questions are raised and the reader is asked to recognise and think about the personal and social implications of the decisions that we make regarding how we deal with the disorders of childhood. Childhood Disorders will provide an accessible, up-to-date introduction to the field for both students and professionals alike.