Child psychopathology is the scientific study of the origin, development and manifestation of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders that occur in children and adolescents.
Child psychopathology is sometimes confused with abnormal psychology, clinical child psychology, counseling child psychology, child psychiatry and developmental psychology, so we will clear up that confusion here.
Abnormal psychologists study not only diagnosed psychological disorders, but also study the pre-conditions that might lead to an actual disorder, while child psychopathologists only study diagnosed disorders, and only those that occur in children or adolescents.
Clinical child psychologists, counseling child psychologists and child psychiatrists actually treat patients, while child psychopathologists don’t; they only study patients in order to advance our knowledge of psychological disorders.
Developmental psychologists study the natural development of people from birth to old age as a cyclic process, with the study of unnatural developments like developmental disorders only constituting a part of their study. Child psychopathologists, on the other hand, only study the disorders themselves without placing them within the context of developmental psychology.
Child psychopathologists perform experimental research on disorders like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, borderline personality disorder, pervasive developmental disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in order to help develop better methods of treating them.
Creating new types of treatment for psychological disorders can be quite difficult. Psychological disorders can be somewhat individualized, and patients might be suffering from a unique set of combined disorders, so it’s sometimes necessary to treat the type of patient rather than the type of disorder.
Sometimes, two patients who share the same disorder will receive different types of treatment, while two other patients who don’t share the same disorder might receive the same type of treatment.
Types of Degrees
Child psychopathology is a relatively new field, so bachelor degrees in psychopathology aren’t normally available. The next best majors would be in abnormal psychology or developmental psychology, if available. A Bachelor of Science in experimental psychology would also work well and is more available.
A Bachelor of Science in general psychology will suffice, as long as you load up on lab courses. Typical coursework may include:
- Chemistry
- Anatomy and physiology
- Statistics
- Child psychology
- Child development
- Abnormal psychology
- Experimental psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Biopsychology
- Research methods
- Cognition and learning
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Behavioral genetics
- Human heredity and development
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Psychological research
- History and systems of psychology
Because there are few jobs available in psychopathology for students holding only a bachelor’s degree, a graduate degree is almost a necessity. A master’s degree may suffice for many jobs as a research assistant, but most jobs for full-fledged researchers require a doctorate degree, usually a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. A Doctor of Education (EdD) degree is good for psychopathology teachers.
There are a limited number of Master’s programs in psychopathology, and the competition can be fierce to get accepted. For those who can’t get in, getting a master’s in abnormal psychology, developmental psychology or experimental psychology may work, as long as they continue on to get a PhD in child psychopathology.
Another option is to find a psychopathology program that combines the master’s degree and doctorate in one program; these combined programs usually can be completed in less time than it takes to get the master’s and doctorate degrees separately.
In graduate school, students spend a lot of time in research and in specialized learning in areas like:
- Child psychopathology
- Behavioral assessment
- Multicultural assessment
- Quantitative modeling
- Behavioral disorders
- Mood disorders
- Trauma
- Anxiety disorders
- Health-related behaviors
- Psychopharmacology
- Eating disorders
Career Opportunities
Most child psychopathologists choose a career as a researcher, normally in a research institution, hospital lab or university. Those who work in universities often double as professors.
Many child psychopathologists specialize in researching a particular disorder or group of disorders. A few child psychopathologists serve as consultants for private companies or governmental agencies.
Career opportunities in the field of child psychopathology are diverse and rewarding. Here are several options to consider:
- Clinical Child Psychologist: They work directly with children and adolescents who are suffering from psychological disorders. This could involve conducting psychological assessments, creating and implementing treatment plans, and providing psychotherapy services.
- School Psychologist: School psychologists work within educational settings to help students with psychological disorders succeed academically. They collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to create safe and productive learning environments for all students.
- Child Psychiatry: With additional medical training, you can become a child psychiatrist. These professionals are medical doctors who can diagnose mental health issues in children and prescribe medication when necessary.
- Pediatric Neuropsychologist: They specialize in understanding the relationship between brain development and behavior in children. This can be useful in diagnosing and treating conditions like ADHD, learning disabilities, or effects of brain injury.
- Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist: They provide therapy services to children and adolescents, usually within a private practice setting. They may use various therapeutic techniques based on the specific needs of their clients.
- Researcher or Professor: Many individuals with a background in child psychopathology pursue careers in academia or research. They might teach future professionals about child psychopathology, or they could conduct research to further our understanding of childhood mental health disorders.
- Behavior Analyst: This professional uses the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to help children with behavioral disorders. This could involve creating behavior intervention plans and working with other professionals to implement these plans.
- Social Worker: Social workers can specialize in working with children and families where the child has a psychological disorder. They may provide counseling, help access services, or advocate for the child’s needs in different systems like school, legal, or medical.
- Child Life Specialist: They work in healthcare settings to help children and their families cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization.