Abstract
The structure of lay people’s concepts of childhood mental disorder was investigated in a questionnaire study and examined for convergence with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Eighty-four undergraduates who had no formal education in abnormal psychology rated 54 conditions--36 DSM-IV childhood disorders and 18 non-disorders--on features proposed in technical definitions of mental disorder. The lay concept of childhood mental disorder was narrower than the DSM-IV, although most conditions were perceived to warrant professional help. Three dimensions described beliefs about childhood psychopathology: social deviancy, harmful dysfunction, and harmful environment. Harmful dysfunction was related to mental disorder and help seeking judgments.
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We would like to thank F. Bremner, Dr. D. Dow and B. Haralambous at the National Ageing Research Institute for their valuable comments.
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Giummarra, M.J., Haslam, N. The Lay Concept of Childhood Mental Disorder. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 35, 265–280 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-004-6461-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-004-6461-2