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 Abnormal Child Psychology
SIXTH Edition

Eric J. Mash
Oregon Health & Science University
and
University of Calgary

David A. Wolfe
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
and
University of Toronto

Australia Brazil Mexico Singapore United Kingdom United States iii

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 Abnormal Child Psychology, Sixth Edition © 2016, 2013 Cengage Learning
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 Brief Contents
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xxi
Reviewers xxii

Part 1
Understanding Abnormal Child Psychology
1 Introduction to Normal and Abnormal Behavior in Children and Adolescents 1
2 Theories and Causes 27
3 Research 55
4 Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment 82

Part 2
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
5 Intellectual Disability (Intellectual Developmental Disorder) 124
6 Autism Spectrum Disorder and Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia 156
7 Communication and Learning Disorders 195
8 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 227

Part 3
Behavioral and Emotional Disorders
9 Conduct Problems 267
10 Depressive and Bipolar Disorders 310
11 Anxiety and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders 355
12 Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders 400

Part 4
Problems Related to Physical and Mental Health
13 Health-Related and Substance-Use Disorders 441
14 Feeding and Eating Disorders 475

Epilogue 506
Glossary 507
References 517
Name Index 598
Subject Index 617

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 Contents
Preface xvii Special Issues Concerning Adolescents
Acknowledgments xxi and Sexual Minority Youths  22
Lifespan Implications  22
Reviewers xxii A Closer Look 1.6: Current Reports on Mental Health
Issues Pertaining to Children and Youths  23
Part 1 Looking Ahead  24
Study Resources  26
Understanding Abnormal Child
Psychology 2 I Theories and Causes  27
What Is Causing Jorge’s Problems?  28
1 I Introduction to Normal and Jorge: Not Keeping Up  29
Abnormal Behavior in Children Theoretical Foundations  31
and Adolescents  1 Developmental Psychopathology Perspective  31
Georgina: Counting for Safety  2 An Integrative Approach  35
Historical Views and Breakthroughs  3 Developmental Considerations  35
The Emergence of Social Conscience  4 Organization of Development  36
A Closer Look 1.1: Victor of Aveyron  5 Biological Perspectives  36
Early Biological Attributions  5 Neural Plasticity and the Role of Experience  37
A Closer Look 1.2: Masturbatory Insanity  6 Genetic Contributions  38
Early Psychological Attributions  7 A Closer Look 2.1: Gene–Environment Interactions in
Evolving Forms of Treatment  8 Abnormal Child Psychology  39
A Closer Look 1.3: Little Albert, Big Fears, and Sex in Neurobiological Contributions  41
Advertising 9 A Closer Look 2.2: The HPA Axis and Stress
Progressive Legislation  10 Regulation 43
A Closer Look 1.4: UN Convention on the Rights of
Psychological Perspectives  44
Persons with Disabilities (2007)  10
Emotional Influences  45
What Is Abnormal Behavior in Children and Behavioral and Cognitive Influences  47
Adolescents? 10 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)  47
Adam Lanza: Early Troubles  10 A Closer Look 2.3: Similarities in Children’s Early
Defining Psychological Disorders  11 Behavioral Styles and Adult Personality and Well-
Competence 12 Being 48
Developmental Pathways  13 Family, Social, and Cultural Perspectives  50
Risk and Resilience  15 Infant–Caregiver Attachment  50
Raoul and Jesse: Why the Differences?  15 The Family and Peer Context  51
A Closer Look 1.5: Overcoming the Odds  15 A Closer Look 2.4: The “Core Story” of
The Significance of Mental Health Problems among Development 53
Children and Youths  17 Looking Ahead  53
The Changing Picture of Children’s Study Resources  54
Mental Health  18
What Affects Rates and Expression of Mental 3 I Research  55
Disorders? A Look at Some Key Factors  18
A Scientific Approach  56
Poverty and Socioeconomic Disadvantage  19
When Science Is Ignored  57
Sex Differences  19
Race and Ethnicity  21 The Research Process  59
Cultural Issues  21 Common Research Questions and Topics  59
Child Maltreatment and Non-Accidental Whitney: Always Sad  59
Trauma 22 Tito: Constantly Fighting  60

vi

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 A Closer Look 3.1: Cross-Cultural Ethical and Legal Considerations  113
Epidemiological Research: Behavior General Approaches to Treatment  115
Problems Reported by Parents of Children in Seven A Closer Look 4.3: Model Comprehensive Mental
Cultures 62 Health Program: A Culturally Competent School-
Methods of Studying Behavior  64 Based Mental Health Program  118
Standardization, Reliability, and Validity  64 Felicia: Multiple Solutions  119
Measurement Methods  65 Treatment Effectiveness  119
Reporting 66 New Directions  121
Psychophysiological Methods  66 Study Resources  123
Neuroimaging Methods  67
Observation Methods  68
Research Strategies  69 Part 2
Identifying the Sample  69
General Research Strategies  70 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Research Designs  72
A Closer Look 3.2: Longitudinal Research: Does 5 I Intellectual Disability (Intellectual
Child Maltreatment Lead to More Peer Rejection over Developmental Disorder)  124
Time? 76
Qualitative Research  77 Intelligence and Intellectual Disability  125
A Closer Look 3.3: Qualitative Research: Siblings Talk The Eugenics Scare  126
about Their Brothers with Autism Spectrum Disorder A Closer Look 5.1: The Infamous
(ASD) 78 Kallikaks 126
Defining and Measuring Children’s Intelligence and
Ethical and Pragmatic Issues  79
Adaptive Behavior  126
Informed Consent and Assent  79
A Closer Look 5.2: Early-Twentieth-Century
Voluntary Participation  80
Perspectives on Mental Retardation  127
Confidentiality and Anonymity  80
The Controversial IQ  128
Nonharmful Procedures  80
Other Ethical and Pragmatic Concerns  80 Features of Intellectual Disabilities  129
Matthew: Gaining at His Own Pace  129
Study Resources  81
Vanessa: Gaining at Home  130
4 I Assessment, Diagnosis, and Clinical Description  130
Severity Levels   132
Treatment 82 Prevalence 136
Clinical Issues 83 Developmental Course and Adult
Felicia: Multiple Problems  83 Outcomes 137
The Decision-Making Process  83 Dan: With His Brother’s Help  137
Developmental Considerations  84 Motivation 138
Purposes of Assessment  88 Changes in Abilities  139
Assessing Disorders  90 Language and Social Behavior  139
Clinical Interviews  91 Emotional and Behavioral Problems  140
Felicia: History  92 Pattie: Disturbed or Disturbing?  140
Behavioral Assessment  93 Other Physical and Health Disabilities  141
A Closer Look 4.1: Observing Behavior: Seeing the Causes 142
Whole Picture  97 Inheritance and the Role of the
Psychological Testing  97 Environment 143
A Closer Look 4.2: Items Similar to Those Included in Genetic and Constitutional Factors  144
WISC-IV 99 Neurobiological Influences  147
Classification and Diagnosis  102 Social and Psychological Dimensions  148
Categories and Dimensions  103 Prevention, Education, and Treatment  149
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Prenatal Education and Screening  150
of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)   105 Psychosocial Treatments  151
Treatment and Prevention  109 A Closer Look 5.3: Practical Recommendations
Intervention 110 for Enhancing Children’s Lives through Early
Cultural Considerations  112 Intervention 152
Treatment Goals  112 Study Resources  155
Contents   vii

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 6 I Autism Spectrum Disorder and 7 I Communication and Learning
Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia  156 Disorders 195
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)  157 James: Smart but Can’t Read  196
Description and History  157 Francine: Shunned and Falling Behind  196
DSM-5: Defining Features of ASD  158 Definitions and History  197
ASD across the Spectrum  160 Language Development  199
Lucy: ASD with Intellectual Disability  161 Phonological Awareness  200
john: ASD with Average Intellectual Ability  161 Communication Disorders  201
Core Deficits of ASD  163 Jackie: Screaming, Not Talking  201
Social Interaction and Communication Language Disorder  201
Deficits   163 Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder
A Closer Look 6.1: Attachment in Children with (Stuttering)   205
ASD 164 Sayad: Family Legacy  205
A Closer Look 6.2: Early Communication in Social (Pragmatic) Communication
ASD 166 Disorder 207
Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors Specific Learning Disorder  208
and Interests  167 James: Strong Points Shine  208
Associated Characteristics of ASD  169 Tim: Warming with Interest  209
Intellectual Deficits and Strengths  169 SLD with Impairment in Reading   212
Cognitive and Motivational Deficits  170 SLD with Impairment in Written
A Closer Look 6.3: The Sally–Anne Test: What It Expression 213
Means to Have a Theory of Mind  171 Carlos: Slowly Taking Shape  213
Medical Conditions and Physical SLD with Impairment in Mathematics   214
Characteristics 173 A Closer Look 7.1: Factors That Increase Resilience
Accompanying Disorders and Symptoms  174 and Adaptation  217
Prevalence and Course of ASD  174 Francine: Slowly but Surely Improving  221
Age at Onset  175 A Closer Look 7.2: Steps in Direct Behavioral
Anne-marie: First Birthday  176 Instruction 222
Course and Outcome  176 Carlos: Plans  224
A Closer Look 7.3: Critical Elements for a Successful
Causes of ASD  177 Beginning Reading Program  225
Problems in Early Development  177
Genetic Influences  178
Study Resources  226
Brain Abnormalities  179
ASD as a Disorder of Risk and Adaptation  180
8 I Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Treatment of ASD  181 Disorder (ADHD)  227
Overview 182
Emilie: A Full-Time Job  182 Description and History  228
Early Intervention  184 John: Inattentive, Hyperactive,
Medications 186 Impulsive 228
Description 228
Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia (COS)  187
History 229
Mary: Depressed, Disorderly, Doomed  187
Core Characteristics  230
DSM-5: Defining Features of
Inattention   232
Schizophrenia 188 Lisa: Just Can’t Focus  232
A Closer Look 6.4: Psychotic Symptoms in Children Hyperactivity–Impulsivity   234
with Schizophrenia  189 Mark: Junior Wild Man  234
Precursors and Comorbidities  190 Presentation Type  235
Prevalence 190 Additional DSM Criteria  236
Causes and Treatment of COS  191 What DSM Criteria Don’t Tell Us  237
Causes 191 Associated Characteristics  237
Treatment 193 Cognitive Deficits  237
Study Resources  194 Speech and Language Impairments  240

viii Contents 

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