Background to SiP 6

In SiP 6 - Differential Diagnostics of Developmental Disorders, students develop knowledge and skills in diagnosing disorders in children and juveniles. In this case, being able to make an adequate diagnosis is of vital importance. Classification and making a diagnosis in child- and juvenile psychology is about organising the diversity of psychological symptoms in children and adolescents. The psychologist organises them based on the anamnestic interview conducted with the child's parents or guardians, observation of the child or juvenile during an interview as well as the child’s test results.

The main objective is: learning to recognize symptoms of psychopathology during (early) development and being able to make a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis.

That's why this SiP also features the following sub-objectives:

• teaching students that the diagnostic interview (also called anamnestic interview) is an important tool for a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis;
• having students gain an insight into the purpose and structure of the anamnestic interview;
• teaching students to recognize psychopathological symptoms during (early) development and, subsequently, make an adequate DSM-IV-TR diagnosis;
• teaching students that testing materials may provide additional information in diagnosing DSM-IV-TR disorders during (early) development;
• teaching students to think in terms of differential diagnostics.