Exceptional Children and Disability Information
Emotional Disturbance
The topics listed are individual websites that can be accessed only by members of The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education (NAPCSE). If you are not a member of NAPCSE, and would like to join, click here to register. Members of NAPCSE, please log in above (member login and password) to activate these, and all other websites, in our database.
Introduction to the NAPCSE Emotional Disturbance Page
Many terms are used to describe emotional, behavioral or mental disorders. Currently, students with such disorders are categorized as having an emotional disturbance, which is defined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as follows:
"...a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance--
(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.
(B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems." [Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Section 300.7(c)(4)(i)]
As defined by the IDEA, emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance.
The causes of emotional disturbance have not been adequately determined. Although various factors such as heredity, brain disorder, diet, stress, and family functioning have been suggested as possible causes, research has not shown any of these factors to be the direct cause of behavior or emotional problems. Some of the characteristics and behaviors seen in children who have emotional disturbances include:
- Hyperactivity (short attention span, impulsiveness);
- Aggression/self-injurious behavior (acting out, fighting);
- Withdrawal (failure to initiate interaction with others; retreat from exchanges of social interaction, excessive fear or anxiety);
- Immaturity (inappropriate crying, temper tantrums, poor coping skills); and
- Learning difficulties (academically performing below grade level).
Children with the most serious emotional disturbances may exhibit distorted thinking, excessive anxiety, bizarre motor acts, and abnormal mood swings. Some are identified as children who have a severe psychosis or schizophrenia.
Many children who do not have emotional disturbances may display some of these same behaviors at various times during their development. However, when children have an emotional disturbance, these behaviors continue over long periods of time. Their behavior thus signals that they are not coping with their environment or peers.
NAPCSE provides its members with a wide array of resources on children classified with an emotional disturbance. These include the following:
Accommodations/Modifications
- modifying the learning environment
- A short guide to understanding accomodations
- a listing of books and journal articles for students with disabilities
- journal article about testing accomodations
- journal article explaining the difference between IDEA and Section 504
- testing accomodations for students with bi-polar disorder
- accomodations for persons with anxiety and emotional disorders
- classroom accomodations
- examples of accomodations
Adults with Emotional Disturbance
- Factors associated with community adjustment of young adults with serious emotional disturbance: a longitudinal analysis
- Definitions of adults with serious emotional disturbance
- advocacy and learning center
- council for children with behavior disorders
- american academy of child and adolescent psychiatry
- parent advocacy coalition
- accessing parent groups
- parent information
- Overview
- Booklet that describes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of the major anxiety disorders, with information on getting help and coping.
- A fact sheet with descriptions of the major types of anxiety disorders and their treatments.
- Information About Coping with Traumatic Events
- Anxiety Disorders (Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Statistics and Facts about Anxiety Disorders (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
Specific Conditions (Anxiety Disorders)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Social Phobia
- Conversion Disorder (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Feeling of Unreality (Depersonalization) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Separation Anxiety (Nemours Foundation)
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
- Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
- Getting Help: Locate Services
- Anxiety Screening Tools (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Anxiety Disorders Information: Guide to Treatment (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Anxiety Disorders Information: Medications (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Anxiety Disorders: The Role of Psychotherapy in Effective Treatment (American Psychological Association)
- Medications (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Anxiety Disorders Information: Helping a Family Member (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Successful Strategies for Test Anxiety (Freedom from Fear)
- Coping with Anxiety, Fears and Phobias (Nemours Foundation)
- How Families Can Help Children Cope with Fear and Anxiety (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Organizations (Anxiety Disorders)
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- American Psychiatric Association
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America
- National Institute of Mental Health
Children and Anxiety Disoders
- Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Anxiety Medication and Kids (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
- Being Afraid (Nemours Foundation)
- Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders (Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Teenagers and Anxiety Disorders
- All about Anxiety (Nemours Foundation)
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder (Nemours Foundation)
- Why functional assessment of behavior is important
- behavioral recording
- conducting a functional behavioral assessment
- behavior intervention plans
- functional behavioral assessment-FBA
- sociograms
- manifestation determination
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
Overview-Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Going to Extremes: Bipolar Disorder (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Overview (American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Overview (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
Diagnosis/Symptoms-Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder - Signs and Symptoms (National Mental Health Association)
Treatment-Bipolar Disorder
- Finding Peace of Mind: Medication and Treatment Strategies for Bipolar Disorder (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF File
- Lithium (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
- Mental Health Providers: Making the Right Choice (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Understanding Treatment Challenges: Finding Your Way to Wellness (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF File
Prevention/Screening-Bipolar Disorder
- Mood Disorder Questionnaire (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
Coping-Bipolar Disorder
- Dealing Effectively with Bipolar Disorder (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF File
- Healthy Lifestyles: Improving and Maintaining the Quality of Your Life - Links to PDF File
Glossaries-Bipolar Disorder
- Glossary (Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation)
Directories
- Find a Support Group in Your Community (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
Organizations-Bipolar Disorder
- Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
- Depression and Bipolar Alliance
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Institute of Mental Health- National Mental Health Association
Children and Bipolar Disorder
- About Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder (Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation)
- Child and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
- Child and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder: An Update from the National Institute of Mental Health (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Educational Needs of a Child or Adolescent with Bipolar Disorder (Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation)
- Storm in My Brain:Kids and Mood Disorders (Bipolar Disorder and Depression) (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF File
Teenagers and Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder (Nemours Foundation)
- Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness) in Teens (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
- practical advice for managing student behavior
- why kids misbehave
- anxiety disorders
- anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence
- possible alternate assessment strategies
- behavior management checklist
- managing group behavior
- helping kids develop self management
- best practices for behavior disorders
- addressing skill deficits
- giving and getting respect
- token economies
- addressing performance deficits
- primer on behavior management
- numerous different information sites on behavior management
- primer for beginning teachers
- ways to catch kids being good
- how your teaching style affects the managing of behavior
- promoting positive peer pressure
- bullies
- assertive discipline
- cooperative learning
- differential reinforcement procedures
- schedules of reinforcement
- shaping
- task analysis
- time out
- The really big list of classroom management resources
- various behavior management techniques for new teachers
- Behavior management tips
- behavior management checklist
Overview
- Overview of Depression
- Clinical Depression: What You Need to Know (National Mental Health Association)
- JAMA Patient Page: Depression (American Medical Association)
- Lowdown on Depression (Food and Drug Administration)
Diagnosis/Symptoms-Depression
- Symptoms: Learning to Recognize Clinical Depression (National Mental Health Association)
Treatment-Depression
- Depression: Electroconvulsive Therapy (American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Electroconvulsive Therapy May Relieve Severe Depression, Other Disorders (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- How to Find Help Through Psychotherapy (American Psychological Association)
- Medications (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Questions and Answers on Antidepressant Use in Children, Adolescents, and Adults (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research)
- Types of Treatment: Clinical Depression is a Treatable Illness (National Mental Health Association)
Alternative Therapy-Depression
- St. John's Wort and the Treatment of Depression (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
- Study Shows St. John's Wort Ineffective for Major Depression of Moderate Severity (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
Research on Adolescence and Depression-Depression
- As Antidepressant Medication Treatment Increases, Adolescent Suicide Rates Decrease (American Medical Association)
- Combination Treatment Most Effective in Adolescents with Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)
Directories-Depression
- Getting Help: Locate Services (National Institute of Mental Health)
Organizations Involved with Depression
- American Psychiatric Association
- Center for Mental Health Services
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Mental Health Association
Children and Depression
- Antidepressant Medications for Children: Information for Parents and Caregivers (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Depression in Kids: How Is It Treated? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- When Your Child is Depressed (Nemours Foundation)
- childhood onset anxiety disorders
- handling children’s fears
- coping with child’s stress
- child discipline series-very extensive
- parenting How To’s
- parent’s index to childhood and emotional disabilities
