This article examines recent literature related to the diagnosis of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) in childhood. First, the article discusses diagnostic criteria presented in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Next, it explores the diagnostic procedures for AD/HD…

War may be the most profound psychosocial stressor on child and adolescent development, for it has the potential to inflict loss, disruption of stability, deleterious health effects and family/community system disorganization. This article reviews the literature regarding the effects of war on children and explores the role and function of the…

Psychologists who work in schools are prepared to provide a broad range of services. However, some school systems do not avail themselves of the myriad services which psychologists can competently deliver. Direct services, which incorporate assessment for special education, counseling, and other forms of therapy services, occupy the major time of…

This fact sheet answers frequently asked questions about psychological evaluations for infants, children, and adults who are deaf-blind. It also considers how to use psychological evaluation quality indicators and identifies desired outcomes to maximize benefits to the student. Questions addressed include: (1) what skills and abilities are…

Responding to dramatically increased levels of urban violence, inner-city school districts have recognized the need to address the psychological impact of violent events by organizing Crisis Response Teams. In New York's south Bronx neighborhoods, where violence appears endemic, the schools often serve children's basic needs by providing a safe…

School psychologists can expand their role as consultant to students, school personnel, and parents by disseminating information about suicide ideation. This paper represents a replication of a previous study by two of the authors concerning knowledge about suicide among undergraduate university students majoring in education at a southern…

This book is organized around several themes, namely: the changing context for the professional practice of school psychology; classroom- and school-based prevention and intervention programs; and professional training issues specific to intervention-oriented school psychology. The first three chapters address numerous reform and restructuring…

A needs assessment was conducted within the Toronto (Ontario, Canada) school system. Psychoeducational consultants, social workers, and principals in all elementary and secondary schools were surveyed. A total of 350 questionnaires were returned from 113 schools. In the first section of the survey, respondents were given a list of work-related…

School psychologists as consultants can provide valuable services to the school organization by developing interventions for truancy. Traditionally, truancy has been viewed as a discipline referral rather than a psychological referral, with the consequences predominantly punitive in nature and ineffectual. A variety of approaches to improving…

School psychologists engaged in ecological assessment need to measure the degree to which children's behaviors fit the demands of the school environment. Although no standardized instruments serve that purpose, rating scales and simulation/role plays can be adapted to measure the person-environment (PE) fit. Although most behavior rating scales…

Discusses the difficulty of documenting the effectiveness of preschool programs and relates this to measuring instruments used and the type of design selected. Methods are provided to assist psychologists and educators to evaluate preschool programs. Three studies of preschool programs using different designs which involve published…

Twenty-two school psychologists participated in a year long institute designed to test the use of a multiplier effect in the continuing professional development of school psychologists in Michigan. Results indicated that 550 school psychologists attended two in-service meetings with generally favorable reactions. (Author)

Forty-three regular classroom teachers were provided with four one-hour inservice sessions about learning disabilities. Pre- and post-test administrations of the Learning Disabilities Information Inventory were utilized to measure change resulting from these sessions. Results indicate inservice sessions are a viable means of increasing classroom…

The present study investigated number and nature of school psychological referrals in a black, lower socioeconomic, "inner-city" school system. Unlike earlier investigations, this study demonstrated statistically significant sex and/or developmental differences in stated reason for school psychological referrals. (Author)

Rational-emotive therapy (RET) provides school counselors with an effective, comprehensive method of counseling that they can use with a wide variety of clients. (Author)