AAP Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care: Child and Adolescent Version (DSM-PC) serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding, diagnosing, and managing developmental and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. This resource integrates neurobiological, environmental, and relational perspectives to help clinicians recognize normal and abnormal developmental patterns across all pediatric age groups. It provides evidence-based guidance for accurate diagnosis, therapeutic decision-making, and ethical, legal, and policy considerations in pediatric behavioral health.

Key Features:

• Covers normal and abnormal development and behavior for all pediatric age groups.
• Provides criteria for developmental and behavioral disorders based on the DSM-PC framework.
• Integrates neurobiological, environmental, and relational factors in assessment and management.
• Evidence-based guidance for diagnosis and treatment, including practical recommendations from the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Clarifies the boundaries of “normal” development and variation within specific disorders.
• Includes a dedicated chapter on law, policy, and ethics to guide legal and professional considerations.
• Comes with a CD containing DSM-PC criteria, tables, and illustrations for use in electronic presentations.
• Supports informed, safe, and effective therapeutic decision-making in primary care settings.