Handbook for screening adolescents at psychosocial risk
By: edited by Mark I. Singer, Lynn T. Singer, Trina M. Anglin.
Contributors: Singer, Mark I.; Singer, Lynn T.; Anglin, Trina M.
Publisher: Lexington Books; Maxwell Macmillan Canada; Maxwell Macmillan International
Published: 1993
Place of publication: New York; Toronto; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 437
Subjects: Teenagers -- Mental health.; Behavioral assessment of teenagers.; Teenagers -- Health risk assessment.
Description: Adolescence - the bridge between childhood and adulthood - represents a significant developmental period characterized by marked changes in physiology, cognition, and behavior. For those in the field of human services, working with adolescents represents a particular challenge, as the transition from childhood is often fraught with difficulties. Accidents, homicide, and suicide - the three leading causes of death among adolescents - are all largely preventable and are directly related to psychosocial and developmental issues. The challenges of identifying and addressing adolescents' developmental needs, health, mental health, and social problems span many disciplines. For example, school counselors need to understand reproductive health issues and how to recognize depression, for they may be the first called on to provide preliminary evaluation of a psychotic teenager who has disrupted a classroom.

Nurses and social workers who work in urban hospital emergency departments frequently encounter youths who are involved in gang violence and substance abuse, who are depressed, who have attempted suicide, or who have been sexually assaulted. Youth workers and probation officers need to recognize the multiple problems in which their charges may be involved, such as sexual risk-taking, substance abuse, delinquency, and violence. This handbook provides all the information necessary for all professionals working with adolescents to understand and recognize their major psychosocial problems. Each chapter is written by an experienced clinician or research scientist who is a recognized expert in his or her field. Topics include family problems, substance abuse, head injury, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, suicide, gang involvement, antisocial behavior, reproductive health, sexual and physical abuse, eating disorders, and psychosis.

Further, specific screening strategies and clinical protocols are provided to assist professionals in recognizing these problems. The Handbook for Screening Adolescents at Psychosocial Risk brings together in a single volume all the essential information that would ordinarily be found in numerous separate reference texts. It will be an essential, time-saving reference for all mental health practitioners.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.