Review of A Handbook for the Assessment of Children's Behaviours, by Jonathan Williams, and Peter Hill

Abstract

[Author Affiliation]Daniel S. Schechter. Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent ( SPEA) Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve et la Faculte de Medecine de l'Universite de Geneve, Geneve, Switzerland.ISBN: 978-1-119-97589-2. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, 616 pages.Address correspondence to: Daniel S. Schechter, MD, CC, Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent (SPEA) Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve et la Faculte de Medecine de l'Universite de Geneve, 51 Boulevard de la Cluse, 2eme Etage, 1205 Geneve, Switzerland, E-mail: daniel.schechter@hcuge.chHave you ever wanted find a clinical reference book that is indexed by most common child and adolescent symptoms and signs rather than by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) disorder? The new Wiley Desktop Edition of A Handbook for Assessment of Children's Behaviours by Jonathan Williams and Peter Hill is just such a volume. The authors state in Introduction, is a book about However, title states that it is a book about assessment. Therefore, we see both major advantage and major disadvantage of this particular text right at beginning.The idea of a Merck Manual style of understanding which forms of psychopathology specific symptoms and signs might be linked is in itself a welcomed addition child and adolescent psychiatry library. This practical volume is divided into a brief introductory section, a large section on problem behaviors that forms meat of book, and 250 out of 616 pages of book that are devoted eight helpful appendices, a glossary and index, and references. It is a very dense paperback that a lot of fine print, many useful tables and charts, citation of measures, laboratory tests standard normal values, and more, which obsessional clinicians can sink our teeth into.The introductory section states that this book will list individual symptoms and behaviors that are most commonly focus of complaint, and will also list factors that can contribute or cause them. The book is designed to help readers decide if symptoms merit clinical attention or not and what further assessment is indicated. The level of text and content are particularly well pitched students, interns, residents, and beginning mental health practitioners. The volume contains useful discussions such as the meaning of tears, stating that tears are an invitation meet patient with sympathy and encouragement, and then offers some model phrases of encouragement. Another passage asks When is intuition useful? and yet another recommends giving feedback during and after assessment, always starting child's and parent's points of view in mind.Following introductory section, book launches into various developmental and psychological domains in which symptoms arise, and then lists those symptoms. Although not overtly remaining wedded any particular school of thought or theory at glance, a more careful reading suggests that authors have a somewhat cognitive-behavioral bent, and that, therefore, cognition is domain in a guide meant for psychologists and psychiatrists, followed by motor, sensory, communication, and social. Thereafter, one notes categories such as breaking rules, anger, anxiety, negativeness, and languor, in of a singular emotional or affective domain. And finally, there are domains named digestive/excretory, and bizarre experiences and ideas related more specific forms of psychopathology, such as psychotic disorders.The very behavior and related Causelist in book is Poor results in school or testing. The authors state that this has in book because it needs be considered in every child, even when it is not presenting complaint. Therefore, one immediately finds focus of this volume on school-age children and academic performance be a primary indicator of functioning, which is in contrast social-emotional functioning, which might be listed as first place in other child mental health handbooks. …