THE LABORATORY FOR STUDIES IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
DIVISION OF CHILD PSYCHIATRY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
STANFORD UNIVERSITY,
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

 

Main content areas studied in the lab are as follows:

1) Aggression and its relationship to psychopathology. Dr. Steiner is a national and international expert on the overlap between psychopathology, aggression and antisocial behavior. He has authored the National Practice Parameters for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as well as multiple research and clinical articles on these topics. He has consulted to systems of juvenile justice for many years in an effort to bring the insights of developmental psychopathology to bear on the care of incarcerated youths. His model of aggression emphasizes its normative nature (especially in the adolescent age range) and the complexity of maladaptive and psychopathological aggression.

2) Psychopathologies associated with trauma and victimization. Abuse and child victimization are important precursors of disorders related to aggression. The lab has contributed significantly to the study of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dissociative Disorders and is very interested in the Survivor (Meursault) syndrome and the concepts of resilience and protective factors. They are interested in studying children exposed to intrafamilial abuse, accidents and natural disasters, as welle as war and dislocation. Dr. Steiner gives frequent expert testimony to legal and legislative bodies on these issues.

3) Pediatric and psychiatric comorbidity (i.e. the overlap between pediatric and psychiatric diseases) : the lab has conducted extensive research in juvenile eating disorders, somatoform disorders, the psychiatric sequelae of pediatric disease and intensive treatment systems for pediatric psychiatric comorbidity. They are particularily interested in the traumatic impact of high tech medical interventions on patients. Dr. Steiner is widely known as an expert in consultation/liaison psychiatry.

4) The Mental health of high school and elite collegiate athletes. Studies in this domain document the special characteristics which athletes bring to athleticism and which delineate elite performers from others. These studies also seek to document the positive and negative impact of sports participation . They have developed appropriate screens and instruments for the longitudinal assessment of athlete development. Dr. Steiner has consulted to individual athletes and teams at the high school and collegiate level regarding issues of mental techniques to enhance performance.

We primarily carry out real life studies in diverse settings such as hospitals, schools and juvenile detention centers. We work predominantly with children and adolescents of all ages, but also involve parents and other adults in our procedures. We usually employ dry lab techniques to obtain data. We use structured, semi structured and unstructured interviewing techniques, questionnaires and surveys, collection of speech samples and standardized observer ratings to assess psychiatric diagnoses, mental health risk factors, protective factors and current mental status. We are interested in diagnosis, treatment and prevention studies from a developmental perspective.

We have developed several questionnaires, rating scales and experimental procedures which allow for the assessment of subtle aspects of mentation relevant to all these domains.

The lab accepts undergraduates, graduate students and postgraduates in the fields of psychiatry, psychology and pediatrics. Students’ roles are commensurate with their previous experience and range from assisting in ongoing studies to designing and carrying out your own projects. Our projects usually require sophistication in human interaction and interpersonal skill. Previous research experience is not necessary, but computer literacy is a must. Dr. Steiner is extremely interested in expanding diversity among mental health practitioners and researcher. He was reecently recognized by the American Academy of Child and Adolescnt Psychiatry as the individual in the USA who has successfully trained the most minority mental health researchers.

Lab meetings are on Mondays and Thursdays 1:30-3:00 pm in room 1206, Psychiatry Building, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305-5719.

For detailed information on publications and background of individual lab members, please see our research main section.

For further information contact:
Laura Delizonna, Ph.D. at 723-5766