Mental Health Interventions with Preschool Children

Preschool children have been largely neglected in the mental health treatment literature, although research has established that many behavioral and emotional disorders in children result from events occurring during the preschool years or are first manifested during this period. This has occurred for several reasons. Traditional psychoanalytic thinking has considered preschoolers to be too psychologically immature for complete manifestations of psychopathology, and the limited language abilities of young children have complicated assessment procedures and made them less appropriate for treatment approaches that are largely verbal in nature. In addition, the developmental complexity of the preschool period has deterred many researchers from investigating clinical issues with this age group. Partly as a result of the lack of information on preschoolers in the literature, practitioners have historically been uncomfortable in conduct ing assessments and initiating treatment with young children. They have often adopted a "wait and see" attitude in which formal mental health diagnosis and treatment are not implemented until after the child's entry into school. Unfortunately, such a delay may mean wasting the time during which mental health interventions can be maximally effective. Recently, this attitude has changed and practitioners now recognize the need for assessment and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders early in life. What they require to assist them in the timely delivery of such services is information about assessment and treatment procedures specifically designed for preschoolers and with demonstrated efficacy with that age group.

Autorentext

Cheryl Bodiford McNeil, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology in the Clinical Child Program at West Virginia University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. McNeil's clinical and research interests are focused on program development and evaluation, specifically with regard to abusive parenting practices and managing the disruptive behaviors of young children in both the home and school settings. She has authored two books (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Short-Term Play Therapy for Disruptive Children), a continuing education package (Working with Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children), a psychotherapy DVD for the American Psychological Association (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), and a classroom management program (The Tough Class Discipline Kit). In addition, Dr. McNeil has published numerous research articles and chapters related to the importance of intervening early with young children displaying disruptive behaviors. She is the wife of Dr. Daniel McNeil, a Professor of Psychology, and the mother of two school-aged boys. Toni Hembree-Kigin, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in independent practice in Mesa, Arizona. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Dr. Hembree-Kigin's clinical and research interests are focused on young children with disruptive behavior problems and those in shelter and foster care. She has authored three books (Mental Health Interventions with Preschool children, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Short-Term Play Therapy for Disruptive Children) and a continuing education package (Working with Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children). Dr. Hembree-Kigin designed the therapeutic milieu in the group home and shelter care for the Child Crisis Center East Valley based on the PCIT model. In addition, Dr. Hembree-Kigin has published numerous research articles and chapters related to the importance of intervening early with youngchildren displaying disruptive behaviors. She is the wife of Dr. Timothy Kigin, school psychologist, and mother of three school-aged children.

Klappentext
Written for mental health professionals-particularly child psychologists-this volume offers a comprehensive review of the symptoms and available treatments of mental health disorders in preschool children. Organized by disorders, each chapter discusses prevalence, etiology, assessment and treament. Child psychologists, school psychologists, and educators will also benefit from this text.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Learning Problems.- 3. Toileting Problems.- 4. Eating Problems.- 5. Sleep Problems.- 6. Communication and Language Problems.- 7. Psychosomatic Problems.- 8. Conduct and Attentional Problems.- 9. Fears and Anxiety.- 10. Autistic and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.- 11. Child Abuse.- 12. Depression and Reaction to Loss.- References.