The severity of dysfunction in 97 boys (ages 6-11) with serious emotional disturbance was rated in school and home environments. Teachers rated subjects higher than outpatient boys with psychiatric disorders and general population boys. Parents' ratings were somewhat less serious but still higher than for general population boys. (Author/JDD)

This discussion concludes that personal choice cannot be used to distinguish between students with serious emotional disturbances or social maladjustment, a distinction required by federal legislation. Literature supporting this conclusion is reviewed, focusing on conduct problems and disorders, choosing maladjusted behavior, choosing a serious…

Evaluation of 170 boys, aged 6 to 11 years, who were referred for serious emotional disturbance (SED) indicated they were typically characterized by limited mental health and educational intervention, noteworthy family stressors, and externalizing psychiatric disorders, especially attention deficit disorder. Findings support revision of Public Law…

Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes of 220 adolescents with severe emotional disturbances toward AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection found most students knew the main modes of HIV transmission. Student age, race, and gender were related to level of knowledge and attitudes toward people with…

Surveyed state special education directors in 50 states and District of Columbia regarding social maladjustment exclusionary clause in federal definition of serious emotional disturbance (SED). Thirty-four states included social maladjustment clause or some form of exclusion in SED definition. Found no significant relationship between presence of…

This survey of 100 New Jersey public and private schools found that adopted children were overrepresented in special education populations, accounting for 6.7 percent of neurologically impaired students, 5.4 percent of perceptually impaired students, and 7.2 percent of emotionally disturbed students. (Author/JDD)

This article addresses the controversy regarding the exclusion of youths labeled socially maladjusted from special education services for the seriously emotionally disturbed. The article reconceptualizes the issue from a cultural-organizational perspective, viewing such exclusion as resulting from a society that has little tolerance for "deviant"…

A survey of 28 Rhode Island mental health agencies examined the number of clients with deafness served and the accessibility of services. Over 70% of respondents had served deaf people during the past year, 25% provided certified interpreters, and 39% were accessible via telecommunication devices for the deaf. (Author/JDD)

The unusually low numbers of students with emotional and behavior disturbances referred and provided with special education services in Mississippi were examined in a survey of 101 special education teachers. Teachers saw parental objections to the label "Emotionally Impaired" as the primary cause of the very low rate of referrals. (DB)

Three studies analyzed training package developed as part of federally funded training grant to teach consultation interview skills to 15 school psychology students in 3 phases of behavioral consultation: problem identification, problem analysis, and treatment evaluation. Results indicated that training package and its variations were effective…

A study involving 254 children (ages 3 to 17) investigated how children referred to the East Baltimore Mental Health Partnership (EBMHP) from a traditional mental health center differed from children referred by non-mental health agencies. Children differed in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial adjustment depending on…

A study found good problem-solving skills, reading at or above grade level, ability to get along with peers and adults, likeability, sense of humor, and having an adult mentor at school were associated with the positive educational progress of 652 boys (ages 13 to 17) with severe aggression and emotional disturbance. (Author/CR)

This case study of a second grader with emotional/behavior disorders and poor academic progress, especially in mathematics, demonstrates the use of functional assessment, development of a hypothesis, intervention development, and intervention evaluation. The case study also shows how functional assessment can be integrated into the classroom…

Presents a brief overview of the circumstances and outcomes of the war in Bosnia, discusses some of the clinical issues being faced by Bosnian children, such as post traumatic stress disorders, and describes volunteer training efforts designed to train teachers as lay therapists. (CR)

Career and education specialists tailored a comprehensive support package consisting of personal futures planning, flexible educational programming, employment support, interagency collaboration, mentorship, social-skill building, and flexible funding to the needs of adolescents and young adults with chronic mental illness or emotional disturbance…