The purpose of this Institute is to provide clinicians with the information needed to conduct comprehensive, empirically-based psychiatric assessments of preschool children and their families. We have brought together leaders/directors of a number of preschool mental health clinics to describe, in practical terms, their clinical models for assessment, diagnostic formulation, and treatment planning for young children and families.

The Institute begins with an introduction to the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in preschool children (Dr. Angold). Then, we proceed with a series of presentations on the clinical models and methods for assessment in these four broad domains: (1) Parent child relationships and family environment; (2) Autism spectrum disorders; (3) Behavioral disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and ADHD; and (4) Emotional disorders including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Each presenter describes his/her (1) assessment protocol including initial screening, number of sessions, measures/assessments used, who conducts each part of the assessment, how information is obtained from other informants including pediatricians, teachers or daycare providers, occupational therapists, speech therapists etc., coordination of the internal clinical team or coordination with external providers, and CPT codes used for billing; (2) diagnostic formulation process; and (3) approaches to treatment recommendations, planning, and follow-up. Each speaker presents clinical vignettes and, when applicable, videotapes of assessments. The Institute book includes descriptions of each of the clinic's assessment protocols including information about how to obtain the measures and to get training if necessary, examples of clinic reports, and a bibliography of papers on infant and preschool psychopathology, psychiatric assessment of young children, and empirically-based treatments for psychiatric disorders in young children and their families.