Child and Adolescent Psychopathology: Achenbach, DSM, and Behavioral Assessment

What is Achenbach's Broad Classification Paradigm?

An empirically derived, bottom-up approach that organizes behaviors into syndrome scales based on large normative datasets.

What are the higher-order groupings in Achenbach's framework?

Internalizing Problems and Externalizing Problems.

How does Achenbach's approach conceptualize psychopathology?

As dimensional, meaning symptoms exist along a continuum rather than as present/absent.

What is the primary focus of the DSM approach?

A top-down, categorical system that defines disorders by a fixed set of criteria.

What is a key difference between Achenbach's and DSM approaches?

Achenbach emphasizes patterns and severity, while DSM emphasizes diagnostic thresholds.

What are the core domains of ADHD?

Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity.

What is a common school presentation of ADHD?

Difficulty completing work and disorganization.

What characterizes Anxiety Disorders in children?

Excessive fear, worry, or avoidance disproportionate to the situation.

What are common symptoms of Depressive Disorders in children?

Persistent low mood, loss of interest, and cognitive symptoms like concentration difficulties.

What are the defining features of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Social communication deficits and restricted or repetitive behaviors.

What does ODD stand for and what are its characteristics?

Oppositional Defiant Disorder; characterized by defiance, argumentativeness, and irritability.

What is the purpose of norm-referenced scores on rating scales?

To compare a child's scores to a normative peer group.

What does a T-score of 60-69 indicate on the BASC-3?

At-Risk (emerging concerns).

What does a T-score of 70 or above indicate on the BASC-3?

Clinically Significant (likely impairment).

What is the significance of validity indicators on rating scales?

They assess whether responses are consistent, honest, and reasonable.

What are common reasons for inter-informant discrepancies?

Contextual differences, differential exposure to behaviors, and rater expectations.

What are the diagnostic requirements for Intellectual Disability (ID)?

Intellectual functioning (IQ ≤70) and adaptive behavior deficits.

What is the difference between adaptive behavior and intelligence?

IQ measures reasoning potential, while adaptive behavior measures real-world functioning.

What are common methods of direct observation in behavioral recording?

Event recording, duration recording, latency recording, and interval recording.

Why do school psychologists rarely diagnose ADHD?

Diagnosis is medical, and schools focus on educational impact.

What are some benefits of mental health awareness efforts?

Reduced stigma, improved help-seeking, and better recognition of true disorders.

What is test bias in psychological assessment?

Differential validity, not group differences.

How can bias in assessment be reduced?

Through measurement invariance, Differential Item Functioning (DIF), and sensitivity reviews.

What is the importance of cultural competence in assessment?

To consider language, SES, gender identity, and disability while avoiding stereotypes.

What does Achenbach's broad classification paradigm focus on?

It uses a dimensional, empirically derived approach to organize behaviors into internalizing and externalizing patterns based on rating scales.

What are commonly diagnosed disorders in children and adolescents?

ADHD, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and disruptive behavior disorders.

What do norm-referenced scores compare?

A student's behavior or functioning to same-age peers.

What do validity indicators on rating scales assess?

They assess whether rating scale responses are consistent, honest, and interpretable.

What can cause inter-informant discrepancies in ratings?

Contextual differences, rater perspectives, or genuine variability in a child's behavior across settings.

What are the criteria for classifying a student with an intellectual disability?

Significantly below-average intellectual functioning, deficits in adaptive behavior, and onset during the developmental period.

What methods can school psychologists use for direct observation and behavioral recording?

Event recording, duration recording, latency recording, and interval recording.

What role do school psychologists play in ADHD assessment?

They provide valuable assessment data related to educational impact using various tools.

What are the pros of mental health awareness efforts?

They can reduce stigma, improve mental health literacy, and increase help-seeking.

What is test bias in assessment?

Differential validity of score interpretations across groups, not simply group differences.

What should ethical assessment consider?

Culturally responsive practices, including language, culture, SES, gender identity, and disability.

What is the impact of ADHD on children?

It is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity across settings.

What does ASD involve?

Social communication difficulties and restricted or repetitive behaviors.

How do validity indicators affect interpretation of rating scales?

Elevated validity indicators may suggest rater bias or response invalidity.

What is the significance of discrepancies in ratings from different informants?

They should guide further inquiry and interpretation.

What is the relationship between adaptive behavior and IQ?

Adaptive behavior scores may be lower or higher than IQ due to various factors.

What is partial interval recording?

A method that marks whether a behavior occurs at any point during a set interval.

What can overinterpretation of normative distress lead to?

Increased self-labeling and potentially worsening symptoms through self-fulfilling prophecies.

What is the importance of understanding behavioral patterns in school psychology?

It helps guide assessment and intervention planning.

What is the role of cultural context in assessment?

Assessment data must be interpreted within the student's broader social and cultural context.

Achenbach paradigm

Dimensional, empirically derived; Internalizing vs. Externalizing patterns; Uses rating scales, not diagnoses; Emphasizes context and multi-informant data.

DSM approach

Categorical diagnostic system; Symptom counts + duration + impairment; Diagnosis-focused.

Key difference between Achenbach and DSM

Achenbach = patterns & severity; DSM = diagnostic categories.

ADHD

Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity; Must occur in 2+ settings.

Anxiety disorders

Excessive fear/worry; Often internalizing, less visible at school.

Depressive disorders

Persistent sadness or irritability; Withdrawal, academic decline.

ASD

Social communication deficits; Restricted/repetitive behaviors.

ODD/CD

Defiance, aggression, rule-breaking; Highly visible in classrooms.

Norm-Referenced Scores

Compare student to same-age peers.

BASC-3 T-scores

60-69 = At-Risk; ≥70 = Clinically Significant.

Conners-4 T-scores

65-69 = Elevated; ≥70 = Very Elevated.

BRIEF-2 T-scores

≥65 = Clinically Elevated EF concerns.

Vineland-3 Standard scores

Standard scores (M=100); Lower scores = weaker adaptive functioning.

Validity Indicators Purpose

Check consistency, honesty, and credibility of responses.

BASC-3 Validity Indicators

F Index, Consistency Index.

Conners-4 Validity Indicators

Inconsistency; Positive/Negative Impression.

BRIEF-2 Validity Indicators

Inconsistency, Negativity.

Key point about invalid ratings

Invalid ratings limit interpretation.

Inter-Informant Discrepancies

Different settings (home vs school); Different expectations; True behavior variability.

Modern view on discrepancies

Discrepancies are meaningful data; Help identify context-specific difficulties.

Intellectual Disability Criteria

IQ ≈ 70 or below; Adaptive behavior deficits; Onset during development.

Difference between IQ and Adaptive behavior

IQ = cognitive ability; Adaptive = everyday functioning.

Factors affecting score differences

Culture; Environment; Supports; Mental health factors.

Direct Observation Methods Recording types

Event; Duration; Latency; Interval.

Partial interval recording

Behavior occurs at any time in interval; Efficient; Overestimates frequency.

ADHD Assessment

ADHD is a medical diagnosis; Useful school data includes rating scales, classroom observations, academic records, teacher/parent interviews, work samples.

Mental Health Awareness Pros

Reduced stigma; Increased help-seeking.

Mental Health Awareness Cons

Overinterpretation of normal distress; Self-labeling; Prevalence inflation.

Test bias

Differential validity across groups; Not just score differences.

Reducing bias

Measurement invariance; Differential Item Functioning (DIF).

Ethical practice in assessment

Consider culture, language, SES, identity; Interpret scores in context.

How to answer case questions

1. Name the construct; 2. Describe what it means; 3. Apply to the child; 4. Consider alternative explanations; 5. Justify your conclusion.