A rapid growth in research in child development and clinical child psychology has led to the expanding field of developmental psychopathology. Developmental psychopathology combines research in child development and clinical child and adolescent psychology to better understand the conceptual frameworks, characteristics, developmental course, context and outcomes of psychopathology in children and adolescence. An ecological approach is emphasized in the development of child and adolescent psychopathology and the influence of contexts in the developmental of psychopathology and the effect on schools and families. Risk and protective factors as well as assessment and treatment of child and adolescent disorders is presented using current research to emphasize the role of developmental processes, contexts and the interactive nature of development that influences adaptive and maladaptive functioning.
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