The hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology (HiTOP) is a novel classification system that adopts both a dimensional and hierarchical approach to psychopathology to address shortcomings. However, the HiTOP framework is descriptive in nature and requires additional research to consider potential mechanisms for the onset and maintenance of psychopathology, such as cognitive-behavioral emotion regulation strategies. To redress this gap, a sample of 341 adults who endorsed ongoing mental health concerns completed self-report measures of emotion regulation strategies and psychopathology. The data revealed a three-spectra HiTOP model consisting of internalizing, thought disorder, and antagonistic externalizing. Results found that psychopathology was most strongly associated with avoidance, catastrophizing, expressive suppression, and self-blame. In contrast, adaptive strategies were generally unrelated to the HiTOP spectra. This pattern was strongest for internalizing, distress, and detachment. Fewer, yet noteworthy unique relationships between the strategies and specific spectra/subfactors were also found. These findings suggest that psychopathology may be best conceptualized as an overutilization of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. Furthermore, the results indicate there is added benefit to considering these strategies within a hierarchical approach to psychopathology. These associations alert clinicians to potential treatment targets and contribute to an ongoing literature that seeks to identify underlying mechanisms of the structure of psychopathology.

In the current literature base of social-emotional development in early childhood there exists a paucity of research of empathy development due to the complicated nature of empathy in young children. The present study utilizes a preexisting dataset from a local therapeutic preschool program, and its methods include visual analysis, correlations, and independent samples t-tests. Results of the present study found that clinical behavior patterns negatively correlate with empathy development. Further, statistically significant group differences exist in affective empathy for children whose parents have a mental health diagnosis. However, results regarding adaptive skills were not found to be statistically significant. The present study contributes and expands the current literature base by exploring empathy development among a clinical sample of preschool-age children. The present study is also unique in its incorporation of specific family factors. / School of Education; / School Psychology / PhD; / Dissertation;

Psychologists face challenges on a daily basis. Among the challenges they face are making diagnostic decisions. Recently, bipolar disorder has shown an increase in diagnosis in children and adolescents. Once felt to be an adult disorder, journals are describing the use of the diagnosis with children and adolescents. While the diagnosis has been considered as relevant, no psychological measures have been developed to make an accurate diagnosis. Developing a new psychological measure for bipolar disorder in children is critical. Due to the lack of data on what constitutes normal behavior as well as the absence of an accurate measurement of early-onset bipolar disorder, it is necessary to develop such a measure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a newly developed measure based on the literature on bipolar disorder in children. The measure was developed through a review of the current literature, DSMIV-TR criteria for bipolar disorder, and ideas developed within a bipolar disorder research team at Texas A&M University. Because of the item content, the new measure is entitled the Mania Assessment Scale for Children (MASC). The first steps in understanding a new measure for early-onset bipolar disorder is to determine the factor structure of the scale as well as the reliability and validity. Results indicated that the MASC is best understood as a measure with a single score, or factor. Once the underlying structure of the MASC was determined, the study evaluated which behaviors of typically developing children may be misconstrued as indicative of bipolar disorder. Group differences on the measure are also evaluated. Results from statistical analysis showed that there were significant group differences between age groups, but not gender and ethnic groups. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between clinical and non-clinical groups. To conclude, a discussion of the findings and recommendations for future research is presented. Overall, it is hoped that the study will help psychologists better understand the complexity of behaviors associated with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Violent and aggressive behavior is a subset of antisocial behavior that is of particular concern to the criminal justice system and to the general public. A challenge facing mental health professionals and the criminal justice system is to assess—with a reasonable degree of accuracy—the likelihood that a young offender will recidivate and to arrange appropriate interventions. Because of its psychometric properties and high predictive validity, the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is being incorporated into risk assessment batteries for use with adults. The purpose of the study was to extend the risk paradigm to adolescent offenders, investigating the predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) from adolescence to adulthood. Subjects were 157 admissions, ages 12-18, referred to Youth Court Services for psychological or psychiatric assessment. Archival data were used to complete retrospectively the PCL:YV and to code criminal history and demographic data on each of the subjects. Follow-up criminal record data were collected, with an average follow-up time of ten years. Over the follow-up period psychopaths demonstrated a greater risk for committing violent offences than nonpsychopaths. They committed violent offences at a higher rate, earlier following their release from custody, and were more likely to escape from custody than nonpsychopaths. Further, results indicate that PCL:YV score, a difference in performance - verbal intellectual functioning (P > V Index), and history of self-harm contributed significantly to the prediction of violent outcome, over and above the contribution of a combination of criminal-history and demographic variables. Finally, background and demographic characteristics were compared between violent and nonviolent psychopaths. Findings are discussed in the context of current conceptualizations of psychopathy and adolescent antisocial behavior.

Thesis (Ph.D.) in Psychology--University of Maine, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-134).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, August, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1939.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-95). Also available on the Internet.