Developmental Psychopathology, Theory and Methods, Vol. 1

The first of two complementary volumes on developmental psychopathology, a new perspective on mental illness that ties mental disorder to normal development. Developmental psychopathology is sufficiently different from older views of mental dysfunction as to be growing as a separate subdiscipline of psychology/psychiatry. This volume covers the history, theory and methods of this new approach, including the contributions of several standard theoretical viewpoints (psychoanalytic, system, theory, organizational, information processing, cross-cultural, etc.); examines the relationship between developmental psychopathology and genetics, neuropsychology, epidemiology, and ethology; and looks at the implications for psychometric theory.

These important volumes offer a new perspective on mental illness which links mental disorder to normal development. Each prominent author strives to elucidate the reciprocally-informing nature of normal and abnormal development, thereby contributing to theoretical advances in these respective areas. Volume 1 covers the history, theory and techniques of this new viewpoint and examines the relationship between developmental psychopathology and genetics, neuropsychology, epidemiology and ethology. It also explores the implications for psychometric theory. Volume 2 deals with assessment, classification and diagnosis; risk factors including maltreatment and family discord; and disorders ranging from retardation through addictions to schizophrenia.