Introduction to the Nature and Study of Internalizing Disorders in Children and Adolescents

In the past decade a great deal of research has focused on internalizing disorders in children and adolescents. This article summarizes the general features of the domain of internalizing disorders in children and adolescents. Internalizing disorders, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, somatic disorders, and suicidal behaviors, among others, are associated with overcontrolled behaviors. Phenomenologically, internalizing disorders are characterized by covert, inner-directed symptomatology. The covert nature of these disturbances presents challenges to professionals, particularly with regard to assessment and treatment. As noted in this article, internalizing disorders as a function of their insidious nature, do not readily come to the attention of psychologists. Because of this, professionals need to be vigilant to the potential existence of internalizing disorders in children and adolescents. This article emphasizes the need for psychologists and other mental health professionals to attend to these potentially severe problems in children and adolescents.