This study examined the prevalence and clinical correlates of sexually inappropriate behaviors in 499 youth treated at a public psychiatric hospital over a 5-year period. Those with histories of sexually inappropriate behaviors had higher rates of being sexually abused or physically abused/neglected and more frequently had behavior disorders,…

This article analyzes research on children's perceptions of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Virtually all studies concur that peers hold negative views of externalizing behavior problems. Findings suggest that professionals need to target peer-identified behavioral and social skill goals and develop programming aimed at normalization to…

Associations between major or minor offending and developmental factors, family characteristics, environmental characteristics, and problem behaviors and symptoms were examined with 180 youth having severe emotional disturbance. Minor offending was associated with increasing age and parental incarceration. Major offending was associated with…

Evaluation of peer-mediated reading instruction with three fifth-grade and sixth-grade boys with behavior disorders found that marked improvement in on-task behavior and positive peer-to-peer comments corresponded to the implementation of peer-mediated instruction. (Author/DB)

This article addresses how Part III of the 1993 Education Act (England) and differences in types of disabilities may affect the time required to complete student assessments and required statements of special educational needs (SEN). Differential needs of students with emotional and behavioral difficulties are noted, as are both the threats and…

A urine alarm, typically used to treat nocturnal enuresis, was effectively used to treat diurnal enuresis in a 15-year-old female with depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder. The study indicated that the alarm eliminated wetting in both treatment phases and that continence was maintained at three-month and…

Three possibilities for the pathogenesis of childhood autism are considered. Little evidence exists for autism as a basic affective disorder, as proposed by R. P. Hobson, but growing evidence supports childhood autism as a basic cognitive disorder, as the author argues. The author's original theoretical perspectives are revised. (SLD)

This paper argues for considering the uniqueness of each student with serious emotional/behavioral disorders when deciding on placement. A full continuum of alternatives should be considered, including the possibility that a self-contained class with a low student/teacher ratio may be the least restrictive setting needed to produce successful…

Examined relations of acute and chronic life stressors and stable social resources to disease-related and psychosocial functioning among adolescents with juvenile rheumatic disease, and the mitigating impact of parental resources. Found that life stressors and social resources were unrelated to disease outcomes. However, adolescents with more risk…

Classroom applications and implications of Kantor's field model and the concept of "setting events" for students with behavioral disorders are discussed, with attention to: current methods of assessing the effects of setting events on students' behavioral problems, methods for intervening in setting events, and research issues for assessment and…

Behaviors of 66 youth, 8 to 18 years old, with emotional and behavioral disorders that put them at risk for placements outside their homes and/or communities were investigated. Behaviors most predictive of at-risk status were physical aggression, extreme noncompliance, peer interactions, and extreme verbal abuse. (Author/SW)

This introduction to a special section provides the basic definitions and presents the measurement approaches and data analytic techniques that are collectively referred to as chaos theory. The conceptualization and assessment of unstable behavioral disorders can be strengthened by incorporating elements of chaos theory. (SLD)

The Double Struggle Life Space Crisis Intervention is a clinical intervention aiming to resolve student crises and address inappropriate staff behavior during crisis. As more inclusion takes place in the public schools, the frequency of student/staff crises will rise. Gives reasons for unprofessional staff behavior, a brief case study, and…

Ratings of 224 students with serious emotional disturbances by 40 teachers indicated that conduct disorders were very prevalent, were correlated with other problematic aspects of temperament and classroom competence, and co-occurred with other types of behavioral problems. Implications of the study for making eligibility decisions for special…

This study found that behaviorally disordered high school students (n=25) enrolled in either an alternative or traditional school setting were significantly lower in moral reasoning compared to their nonbehaviorally disordered peers. The correlation between time spent in the alternative setting and moral reasoning was positive but not significant.…