Failure to thrive affects the lives of many infants and young children at critical times in their development and represents a significant public health problem in the United States. Moreover, this condition is invisible and can affect children for long periods of time before it is recognized. The long-term psychosocial sequelae of failure to thrive have only begun to be recognized but may be more severe than first realized. We do know that the costs to society in terms of acute pediatric hospitalization and long-term rehabilitation, foster care, and mental health treatment of young children who present with failure to thrive are considerable. Children who are diagnosed with failure to thrive represent a special challenge and opportunity for intervention, especially preventive intervention, because it is quite possible that many of the long-term consequences of this condi tion on psychological development can be lessened via early recognition and intervention. However, the potential for preventive intervention in failure to thrive has been limited by the state of the art in scientific knowledge and practice. Despite the frequency with which failure to thrive is encounter ed in ambulatory and inpatient settings, there is little scientific infor mation to guide practitioners. Research on the causes and consequences of failure to thrive has been very much limited by small sample sizes, lack of common definitions, and short follow-up periods. Uncertainties in the science of failure to thrive coincide with the considerable practical difficulties involved in diagnosis and inte~vention.

Developmental psychopathology involves the study and prediction of maladaptive behaviors and processes across time. This new edition of the Handbook furthers the goal of integrating developmental processes into the search for adequate categorical systems for understanding child mental health problems and the trajectories that lead to adult psychopathology. The editors respond to contemporary challenges to place individual behavior in a biological and social context. By including a range of approaches, this volume encompasses the complexity of the growing developmental literature. At the same time, it includes the most recent efforts to produce concise child diagnostic categories. In a thoroughgoing revision of the first edition of this classic text and reference, published by Plenum in 1990, the editors have assembled a distinguished roster of contributors to address such topics as issues and theories; context and mental health; biology and mental illness; disorders of early childhood; disruptive behavior disorders; emotional disorders; control disorders; pervasive developmental disorders; and trauma disorders. Clinicians, researchers, and students in such diverse fields as developmental and clinical psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, social work, and educational and counseling psychology will benefit from the concepts, investigations, and challenges presented in this state-of-the-art compendium.

This comprehensive account of emotional and behavioural problems in pre-school children also provides a practical guide to assessing and managing such problems. It will be an invaluable text for all health professionals working with young families, and an important resource for clinicians who advise parents on how to manage their children in their daily practice. Jo Douglas has worked extensively with young children and their families and lectured widely to professional and parent audiences. She provides outlines for assessments and interviews as well as details on a range of treatments, using case examples throughout to illustrate the methods described.

Within a developmental framework, this book presents a range of effective approaches to treating early relationship difficulties and promoting more sensitive and responsive parenting. Clinicians are guided to understand the different types of problems that parents have with infants and to determine how a given family might best be served--whether by addressing health concerns that are affecting infant behavior, modifying parental beliefs or expectations, or targeting key caregiving skills. Leading experts detail their respective therapeutic models in a practical, clinician-friendly format, including intervention guidelines and illustrative case material. Special topics covered include working with families of infants with special needs and with those at risk for child maltreatment.

This volume posits two theories of behavioral pediatrics: that scientific and clinical study of organism--environment transactions requires investigators to alter recognize the importance of systemic models over mechanistic models; and that attention must be given to environmental contexts of development, and to the events in the environment that trigger and regulate the organization, development, and expression of human behavior.

This special issue was designed to explore the role of health care professionals in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of child maltreatment. The initial five articles were solicited to enhance our understanding of various forms of child maltreatment as well as approaches designed to effectively respond to this difficult problem. The final manuscripts in this issue represent a theoretical and empirical perspective on child maltreatment. Medical settings represent a fertile arena for prevention as well as intervention initiatives. Future research should further support clinical strategies via program evaluation and outcome studies, and be aimed at enhancing our knowledge of the field and developing more comprehensive models to guide our efforts. It is hoped that this issue will stimulate research in this area and provide additional support for clinical interventions in the field.

The treatment of psychopathology in children has been a centerpiece of the overall field of problem behaviors in children. Therefore, a considerable number of data have been accumulated, particularly in recent years. These efforts have expanded at such a rate as to result in the publication of several new journals, such as the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Education and Treatment of Children. Similarly, many standard general clinical journals have begun to de vote more attention to children. Despite these efforts, few books have emerged that are devoted directly and specifically to treatment in childhood psychopath ology. This volume's scope is broad in that it reviews not only behavior therapy, but also the rapidly expanding efforts in psychopathology and traditional psy chotherapy, and at an advanced level. It is designed to provide an in-depth scholarly review of the empirical evidence, including an overview and analysis of the available techniques, their effectiveness, and the limitations and complica tions arising from the use of these treatment methods with the full range of psychopathology displayed by children. Many nationally and internationally recognized experts have agreed to contribute chapters to this book, and we hope that what has emerged is an up-to-date and authoritative volume.