PSY 4039 – Psychopathology of Childhood
Controversial Issues in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology Paper Assignment
Like all scientific fields, psychology is no stranger to controversy. There are a number of
issues in childhood and adolescent psychology for which there is conflicting scientific
evidence, differing expert opinion, differing cultural viewpoints, political “hot-button”
topics, widespread misinformation, and public ignorance of the facts – which all contribute
to important (and sometimes dangerous) debates about the best way to approach
childhood and adolescent mental health.
The purpose of this assignment is to give you experience in researching a controversial
topic in abnormal child psychology and to encourage you to critically discuss that topic. For
this assignment, you will select one of the controversial topics from the list below. Based
on your reading of relevant scientific articles related to this topic, you will write a paper
that discusses this topic. This paper is not intended to be an exhaustive literature review or
to “solve” the debate, but rather a focused essay providing informed opinions. For the topic
you have selected you should describe: the nature of the controversy (what are the
different sides) and what makes this a controversial issue, what are the clinical
implications, what does the scientific evidence say about this issue, and how might the
controversy be solved. Many of these topics do not have “yes” or “no” answers, but instead
are important questions that remain to be addressed with additional research. Your paper
should clarify and explain the topic and review what is currently known in the scientific
literature. For this assignment, you will write a paper (5-6 pages, double-spaced, APA
format) that reviews the scientific literature on the issue and summarizes the major points
of view for that controversy. Goals of this assignment include effectively searching research
databases (e.g., PsychInfo, PubMed) and finding current journal articles on the topic,
reviewing and consolidating these papers, and clearly presenting your findings on the
controversy. All papers must be submitted via Blackboard by the due date on the syllabus.
Important elements of the assignment include:
1. Reviewing and summarizing the scientific research literature about the
controversial topic, including research on each side of the controversy. You will be
required to review at least one scientific paper on each side of the debate, and
include the citation for this paper in your references.
2. Describe why this controversy is important to child and adolescent
psychopathology – for example, what implications does the debate have for the risk
of mental illness or treatment?
3. Indicate whether the available science appears to support one side over the other.
4. Identify what additional research might be needed to help resolve the controversy.
5. Provide your informed opinion about the controversy, and explain why you have
that stance on the topic.
Possible Paper Topics – Choose One of the Following for Your Paper:
1. Is ADHD overdiagnosed and/or overmedicated? In recent years, the rates of children
treated with psychotropic medications for symptoms of ADHD have increased dramatically.
Some argue that this is simply the result of better detection and diagnosis of the condition,
others argue that this is significant overmedication and over reaction to relatively normal
fluctuations in childhood behavior. Exploring the available research literature, summarize
the different sides to this issue and report what the scientific literature has to say about
this important question.
2. Should children under the age of two be diagnosed with a mental disorder if they
meet diagnostic criteria? The field of infant mental health has been growing rapidly in
recent years, and with this growth has come debate about whether or not it is appropriate
for very young children to be diagnosed with mental illness. Review the scientific literature
on this issue and report your findings.
3. Are vaccines and autism related? One of the most heavily publicized and passionately
debated issues in modern medicine relates to the supposed relationship between vaccines
and the development of autism spectrum disorders. There is widespread media coverage
and Internet debate of this issue, leading to important (and possibly dangerous) public
health concerns. What is the scientific evidence regarding this issue? Report your findings
and the views of child mental health researchers.
4. Are the rates of autism really on the rise? The number of children diagnosed with
autism has skyrocketed in the past 2 decades, leading many people to ask important
questions about whether this rise in diagnosis represents a genuine increase in the
disorder, or if other factors are involved in these startling numbers. What does the research
say about these rising rates of autism diagnoses?
5. How do social media and the Internet impact childhood and adolescent mental
health? As commonplace as the Internet and social media are in our world today, it is
important to remember that these things simply did not exist a generation ago, and things
like Facebook are barely 10 years old. As the use of the Internet has affected all aspects of
society, it is important to understand how this new aspect of our lives can influence mental
health. What does the research say about the influence of the Internet and social media
specifically on childhood mental health? This question can cover a broad range of topics,
and you can choose from several possible areas, including depression, social anxiety,
violence, bullying/cyberbullying, suicide, sites that “coach” kids to self-harm or hide their
mental illness from families and mental health professionals, or even how social
media/Internet use may impact the overall risk of mental health problems in general. If
you have questions about what topic to address, please feel free to share your idea with me
to be sure you are on the right track.
6. Why has the number of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder increased
4,000% in 10 years? Childhood cases of bipolar disorder, once thought to be extremely
rare, have increased dramatically in recent years. This increase in diagnosis has also led to
a number of children receiving medication for the disorder. What does the scientific
literature say about this startling surge in bipolar diagnoses among children?
7. Do video games cause violence among children? One of the most hotly discussed
issues of the last 20 years surrounds the role that video games may or may not play in
influencing children to become violent. Some argue that violent video games desensitize
children toward violence and perhaps even teach children to become violent themselves,
whereas others argue that if this were truly the case, we would likely see much more
violence among kids, given the popularity of such games. What does science say about the
role of video games on childhood/adolescent violence?
8. Can children be born evil? In some ways, this issue highlights the age-old debate of
nature vs. nurture – are some children just born with “bad” genes, or do they become bad
because of the environment in which they are raised? What does the research tell us about
children who commit acts of violence or other antisocial behavior?
9. Do antidepressants increase suicide in adolescents? A few years ago, many parents,
families, and mental health professionals were shocked when the FDA issued what they call
a “Black Box” warning on many antidepressant medications commonly prescribed to
adolescents, citing a possible increased risk of suicide among teenagers taking these drugs.
This news led to public outcry and very legitimate concerns on the part of parents – but
what does the actual science say about the link between suicide and antidepressant use in
adolescents?
10. Are children raised by same-sex parents at greater risk of mental health and
social problems? As opinions (and even laws) change in response to efforts by same-sex
couples to achieve increased civil rights and marriage equality, many people still struggle
with the question of whether or not it is healthy for children to be raised by same-sex
couples. What does the scientific literature say about the mental health of those kids raised
by same-sex couples?
11. Transgender children – can children have gender identity issues at very young
ages? There is significant debate about how to best approach the issue of young children
whose gender identity does not match their biological sex, and what, if anything, is
appropriate for parents, doctors, and mental health professionals to do to help these
children. What does the research say about gender identity in children and how to best
help transgender children?
12. Is stigma about mental illness keeping kids from getting good mental health
care? Mental illness is often misunderstood, rarely discussed openly, and many myths and
fears surround the issue of emotional and behavioral health. Individuals who suffer from
mental health problems and their families often face stigma, judgment, and isolation from
their communities. What does the research tell us about stigma/beliefs about childhood
mental illness, and the role that this stigma might play in getting kids and families the help
they need?
Grading Rubric and Guidelines for Controversial Topics Paper
Item/Domain Points
Overview of the Controversy
• Does the student provide an adequate overview of the controversy?
• Are the various sides of the argument represented?
• Does the student clearly and accurately summarize the sides of the controversy?
• Is the student able to identify the important mental health relevance of the topic? Are the
implications of the controversy for childhood mental illness risk and treatment clearly identified?
5
Review of Scientific Articles
• Does the student review appropriate scientific articles that present information on each side of the
controversy/debate? At least one article on each side of the debate?
• Does the student clearly and accurately summarize the main findings of the research studies they
present? Are the basic details of the study accurately summarized (type of study, sample, etc.)?
Does the student identify any strengths/limitations of the study?
• Does the student indicate which side of the debate is supported by the available research?
20
What Additional Research Would Be Needed To Solve Or Further Clarify The Controversy
• What types of studies could be done to answer the important questions raised by the controversy?
• Are there reasons (e.g., practical, scientific, ethical) why this research has not been done yet?
• How should experts move forward to resolve the controversy?
5
Your Reaction and Commentary About the Research
• What do you think about this controversy? Please explain your stance.
• Does the student provide their commentary about the current state of research and its possible
implications for childhood mental health?
• Does the student connect the articles to the course material (lecture, textbook)?
• Is it clear that the student accurately understood the mental health issue and the research study,
and their opinion is well supported?
5
Formatting
• Paper includes all required sections/addresses all parts of the assignment.
• The paper is an appropriate length and level of detail to address all parts of the assignment.
• Scientific Article Review and any References are included and accurate.
• Grammar, Spelling, Clarity of Writing, Proofreading, etc.
• Font, Margins, Spacing, etc. are correct.
5
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS >> 40
If you would like additional explanation about your grade and how to improve your writing,
please see Dr. Sibrava during office hours or by appointment. If you have problems
specifically related to writing and organization skills, you may also visit the Baruch Writing
Center on campus for free assistance: http://baruch.cuny.edu/writingcenter or
http://writingcenter.baruch.cuny.edu/
