Diagnostic Assessment of Affective and Behaviour Disorders in Children

There is a pressing need to identify accurately and treat children's affective and behaviour disorders in the schools. Yet, in these diagnostic areas, school psychologists continue to emphasize their lack of adequate preparation and need for practical guidelines. In response to these problems, this article presents a comprehensive system of multiple procedures that are useful for effectively assessing affective and behaviour disorders in children. The methods focused upon include: (a) blending parent-teacher-child interviews, self-rating measures, and behaviour rating scales in diagnosis; (b) assessing specific child disorders (attention deficit-hyperactivity, depression, anxiety, conduct); and (c) employing a descriptive classification system (e.g., DSM-III). In order to enhance the practical value of these procedures, an outline of assessment guidelines is provided.