An aspect of the theory underpinning cognitive behavioral therapy in which people are taught social skills that helps them to respond rationally to common life problems. Read more

The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) screens child populations and identifies those at high risk of mental disorders. It is based on the Child Behavior Checklist or CBCL. Read more

The UK children's charity Action for Children supports 156,000 children, young people and their families through around 420 projects across the country. It also promotes social justice by lobbying and campaigning.

Alan Guttmacher is a paediatrician and geneticist who has helped to lead the US National Human Genome Research Institute and since 2009 has directed the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or NICHD. Guttmacher played a key role in exploring the ethical, legal, and social implications of the human genome project and integrating its findings into health care. At NICHD he has led the development of a vision for the scientific advancement of the field.

Albert Bandura is a Canadian psychologist who worked mostly at Stamford University in California. He is the originator of social learning theory and other forms of psychology that focus on behavioral traits of individuals. Read more

Established by Jim Casey, the former CEO of the United Parcel Service of America (UPS), the foundation aims to foster public policies, service reform and community support to meet the needs of children. Read more

Anticonvulsants include a range of pharmaceutical interventions used in prevention of epilepsy and other seizures. Read more

Anti-social behavior is a condition characterized by repetitive collisions with typical moral and ethical standards of society. Symptoms include aggression, callousness, impulsiveness, irresponsibility, hostility, a low frustration level, marked emotional immaturity and poor judgment. Read more

Anxiety disorders occur when normal reactions to stressful events result in the sufferer not being able to cope in everyday life. Read more

The Association was founded in 1956 by Emmanuel Miller, to provide a multidisciplinary network for those engaged in work in child and adolescent mental health. Read more

Attachment disorders describe disturbances in social relationships attributable to a failure to form normal attachments in infancy to a primary carer, usually a mother. Read more

Developed by John Bowlby and elaborated by Mary Ainsworth, attachment theory focuses on the nature, significance and function of a child’s tie to his or her parent – more precisely on how the parent protects the child against harm and provides a secure base for exploration. Attachment-based interventions have been developed for a range of clinical problems.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a behavioral disorder characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Symptoms include short attention span, restlessness, easy distraction and constant fidgeting. It is thought to affect between 3% and 5% of children globally. Read more

Atypical antipsychotics are a second generation of pharmaceutical interventions used to treat a range of mental health problems including schizophrenia, aggression and depression. Read more

The Australian Temperament Project aims to trace the pathways to psychosocial adjustment and maladjustment across the lifespan of children born in Victoria in 1982 and 1983, and to investigate the contribution of personal, family and environmental factors to development and well-being. A major theme throughout has been the influence of an individual's temperament on his/her emotional and behavioral adjustment. Read more

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships. It is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Read more

Autism spectrum disorders denote a number of related psychological conditions typified by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication, as well as severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior. Read more

is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University, US, and Professor of Personality Development at the Institute of Psychiatry, UK. His research spans the fields of psychology, epidemiology, and genetics. His current work is concerned with three broad questions: (1) How do childhood experiences shape the course of health inequalities across the life span? (2) How do genetic differences between people shape the way they respond to their environments? (3) What are the best ways to assess and measure personality differences between people? He is recipient of numerous awards with his long-term collaborator, Terrie Moffitt.