Violent behavior of children between six and twelve years old. Therapeutic strategies and research

Abstract

This paper describes the activities of a Clinical Psychological Unit and the demographic and psychopathologicalfeatures of the children assisted there. It also informs about sorne results of the collaborative research work undertaken by two Chairs. Diagnosis records of 75 children between 6 and 12 years old referred by schools and justice courts because of their behavior problems were analyzed. The children belong to poor families of Greater Buenos Aires. Indicators were selected in arder to distinguish when the violent behavior is caused by a character disorder, or it is an expression of psychotic features or whether it t is a neurotic symptom as a result of a trauma (loss situation). Another aim is to find indicators of suicidal risk. The preliminary results are that most of the behavior problems are related to character disorder ("disocial disorder of early beginning" DSM IV). Less pre­ dominan! are the behavior problems asan expression of psychotic features andas neurotic symptoms. There is a potential risk of acting-out and of worrying self-destructive behavior among the two former groups.