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Themenschwerpunkt

Temperament in der frühen Kindheit und die Entwicklung externalisierender Störungen: Implikationen für die klinische Diagnostik

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1024/1661-4747/a000354

Zusammenfassung. Der vorliegende Beitrag legt Zusammenhänge zwischen Temperament in der frühen Kindheit und der Entstehung externalisierender Störungen im weiteren Entwicklungsverlauf dar. Dafür erfolgte eine eingehende Recherche über Temperament und dessen Erfassung im Alter von 0 bis 6 Jahren sowie über die prognostische Validität entsprechender Erhebungsinstrumente. Es wurde untersucht, inwiefern Temperamentsfragebögen in der klinischen Praxis diagnostisch genutzt werden können. Es zeigte sich, dass bestimmte Temperamentsmerkmale, die von verschiedenen theoretischen Modellen eingeschlossen werden, einen Beitrag zur Vorhersage der Entwicklung externalisierender Störungen leisten. Bereits in den ersten Lebensmonaten können Temperamentsmerkmale erhoben und prognostisch genutzt werden. Temperamentsbezogene Elternfragebögen können die Diagnostik zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt zwar sinnvoll ergänzen, liegen zum Teil allerdings nicht für den deutschsprachigen Raum vor und weisen mitunter psychometrische und praktische Unzulänglichkeiten auf.


Temperament in early childhood and developmental externalizing disorders: clinical implications

Abstract. This article illustrates various relationships between temperament in infancy and early childhood and the development of externalizing disorders in the developmental process. The following findings are based on an extensive research on temperament, its measurement between the ages 0 and 6, as well as the prognostic validity of corresponding instruments. The diagnostic use of questionnaires on early temperament in clinical settings was also examined. In conclusion, it can be said that certain temperamental traits, as assumed by different theoretical models, are of prognostic value in the development of externalizing disorders. Even in infants only a few months old, temperamental traits can be measured and be used for prognostic purposes. Parent questionnaires on temperament can contribute to the diagnostic process; nevertheless, only a few of them have been translated to German and been tested on German samples. In addition, several questionnaires exhibit psychometric and practical shortcomings.

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