Mental Health of American Indian & Alaska Native Children: Some Epidemiological Perspectives

Emphasizes the need to know more about the psychological functioning of children & suggests that epidemiological studies of childhood disorders should be sensitive to cultural factors. Diagnostic categories should be empirically defined & standardized, & conceptualization of disorders should relate to developmental stages. It is imperative to secure culture appropriate input from various levels & to consider mentally healthy native children. (89 refs.) (LH)