Examined effects of parental psychopathology and maltreatment on behavior of 102 children with mean ages of 9.75 years. Parental psychiatric status and maltreatment interacted significantly, so that offspring of schizophrenic parents from maltreating families showed increases in externalized behavior problems over time. (RJC)

Data on perinatal and early childhood somatic and psychological risk factors of a random sample of children in early to middle childhood were used to examine the long-term risk of emotional and behavioral problems of late childhood and adolescence. (PCB)

Children who experience parental divorce exhibit more problems, both as children and as adults, than do children from intact families, but the overall group differences between offspring from divorced and intact families are small. Factors that affect adjustment to divorce are discussed. (SLD)

Obscene verbalizations in an individual with traumatic brain injury were treated using stimulus fading as the singular form of intervention. Results of a functional assessment revealed the obscenity was maintained by negative reinforcement. Stimulus fading (the gradual reintroduction of instructional demands) produced immediate and substantial…

Accelerated longitudinal analyses of 7 cohorts of Dutch children over a 10-year period were used to determine whether longitudinal data on children in 1 cohort could predict outcomes of psychopathology in another. Results support accelerated longitudinal analysis to combine short-term longitudinal studies of behavioral-emotional problems into a…

This response to four commentaries (EC 608 302-305) on these authors' earlier paper discussing behavioral research methodology used with individuals with developmental disabilities (EC 608 301) contends that the original paper does not denigrate behaviorism and that practice needs to be informed by a variety of inputs regarding treatment decisions…

Assessed helplessness behaviors in five- to seven-year-old children of mothers with and without depression. Found that, although mothers with depression set a more negative affective tone than mothers without depression during mother-child puzzle tasks, there were few significant differences between the two groups of mothers and children. (MDM)

Analyzes studies published in the 1980s that used psychosocial interventions for preschoolers exhibiting behavioral and emotional difficulties. Finds that social modeling and teaching parents behavioral principles show promise as effective interventions. Suggests that parental involvement is important in successful interventions and that school…

The results of this study support and expand upon previous research indicating that adolescent drug and alcohol use is greatly affected by family factors: adolescents who abstain from drug and alcohol use and abuse come from families who are qualitatively different from the families of adolescents who use and abuse substances. (Author/LKS)

Recounts a teacher's poignant attempt to reach a troubled student who shows only cynical disdain for classroom activities and meets friendly overtures with a cold, unemotional stare. Concludes that teachers cannot reach all students and sometimes have to let some go. (TB)

Describes a cognitive intervention package for increasing self-control and decreasing primary nocturnal enuresis in young children. The package consists of five gradual steps directed toward changing maladaptive habits, helping the child to understand the enuresis process, increase bladder control, develop self-control, and eliminate enuresis.…

Used data from a longitudinal study of 16-year-old girls to test predictions about psychosocial factors in the onset of menarche. Found that family conflict and father's absence in childhood predicted an earlier age of menarche, and these factors in combination with weight showed some evidence of an additive influence on menarche. (Author/GLR)

This study of 570 children (age 9) in the Netherlands found that the presence and severity of minor neurological dysfunction was significantly related to poor performance on standardized reading, spelling, and arithmetic tests and to a lesser extent was related to ratings of distractible behavior. (Author/JDD)

Examined risk factors of 3-year-old sons in 58 families with alcoholic fathers and 16 families with nonalcoholic fathers. Found that sons of alcoholic fathers were more impulsive than sons of nonalcoholic fathers. No differences between the groups in developmental age, IQ, or behavior problems were found. (MDM)

Parent training programs have been effective interventions for middle-income families with children who have developmental, learning, and behavioral problems. Results have been mixed with low-income families, however. Tested practical parenting program with both middle- and low-income parents (n=34). Results indicated significant improvements for…