[Diagnostic testing methods for skill assessment in reading, writing, and arithmetic. A critical review]. / Testdiagnostische Verfahren zur Uberprüfung der Fertigkeiten im Lesen, Rechtschreiben und Rechnen. Eine kritische Ubersicht.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of a specific developmental disorder of reading, writing and arithmetic can be made based upon individually applied standardized methods for testing scholastic achievement and IQ. To make the choice of suitable methods easier for the administrator of the test, a critical survey of German-language methods for assessing skills in reading, writing and arithmetic is presented. METHODS: Test intention and psychometric properties for scholastic achievement are summarized. The methods are assessed with regard to their utility in the diagnosis of congenital alexia and dyscalculia. Supplementary suggestions for clinical assessment are given. RESULTS: In summary, beyond the primary school area there is a lack of current standardized methods that meet the current standards of quality. Particularly the assessment of arithmetic skills above those of the 4th grade level require resorting to methods of dubious curricular validity. Coverage is once again better for the upper elementary and middle school levels. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for new constructions, respectively a need to update published scholastic achievement tests.

[Self-assessment of prescribing behavior of psychotropic drugs for children and adolescence. Results of a survey of established physicians]. / Selbsteinschätzung des Verordnungsverhaltens bei Psychopharmaka an Kindern und Jugendlichen. Ergebnisse einer Befragung von niedergelassenen Arzten.

All registered general practitioners, pediatricians, and neuropsychiatrists of lower franconia were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding the ratio of 0-20 year old patients with psychiatric symptoms and their prescribing methods of psychopharmaca. Neuropsychiatrists treated less children and adolescents with psychiatric symptoms than pediatricians or general practitioners. Approximately 50% of the patients with psychiatric symptoms received psychopharmaca. The most frequently prescribed psychopharmaca were neuroleptics and antidepressants, followed by phytopharmaca with various ingredients, which were most frequently prescribed by general practitioners. The average duration of a psychopharmacotherapy was 9 weeks. A great deal of uncertainty regarding the prescription of psychopharmaca to children and adolescents has become evident. Despite the fact that an enuresis can not be diagnosed before the end of the 5th year, it was one of the most frequently treated symptom of the 2-5 year old children. On the other hand, approximately one third of all physicians principally do not treat children and adolescents with psychopharmaca.

[Concept and services provided by a mobile pediatric and adolescent psychiatric service in a rural area]. / Konzeption und Versorgungsleistung eines mobilen kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Dienstes auf dem Land.

A mobile child and youth psychiatric service is presented that concerned with the mental health care of a county with a population of 239,000 inhabitants. This kind of service was conceived especially to meet the demands of rural regions which are high, as empirical investigations about administrative and real prevalence have shown. The hypothesis that child and youth psychiatric or other specialized institutions create demands not normally existing, could be refuted. The service proved to be an efficient model for mental health care in rural regions so that it can be looked upon--especially in areas which are not sufficiently provided with child psychiatric institutions--as a fully valid alternative to other kinds of mental health services. Still, there is the problem of financing, which is not yet completely solved. A standardized regulation for the whole Federal Republic is suggested with the participation of the health insurance funds.