ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the issues and trends as they relate to the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of childhood disorders. Case formulation is an ongoing and fluid process where assessments serve to refine the diagnosis and guide the development of the treatment plan. The chapter then focuses on the case study of Ericka, which presents an overview of the types of cases seen by individuals working with children in mental health settings and provides insight into the types of questions needed for treatment planning. The categorical approach adopted by the DSM classified a disorder as present or absent based on a decision as to whether the minimal number of symptoms are evident to warrant a given diagnosis. The dimensional classification system provides a framework for discussing behaviors in terms of symptom clusters, patterns or syndromes based on comparisons of those behaviors noted in clinical populations relative to normal populations.
