DSM-IV Diagnosis in the Schools

Familiarity with the DSM-IV has become an integral part of child and school psychology. Specific diagnoses are increasingly required for educational placement, funding and resource allocation, and treatment planning. This clearly written guide provides a succinct and well-organized overview of the principles of diagnostic classification used by the DSM-IV. Readers learn how the DSM-IV "works" as a method of organizing and communicating our understanding of adjustment and cognitive disorders in youth. Chapters group diagnoses thematically by prominent presenting symptoms, focusing on the disorders most commonly encountered in school-age children and adolescents. Throughout, the author explains terms, concepts, and procedures that might be less familiar to practitioners in a school environment.