Developmental assessment

Abstract

Assessment of development constitutes one of the core components of any psychiatric evaluation. This is because evaluation of psychopathology generally entails determining the extent to which behaviours and experiences are appropriate for an individual's age and stage of development and because developmental disorders are common and frequently associated with psychiatric and behavioural disorders. I will describe methods of evaluating and diagnosing developmental disorders, but the principles and techniques also apply to evaluating development during any comprehensive psychiatric assessment.