The Internalizing and Externalizing Problems and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems framework, first conceptually developed and offered by Achenbach (1966), has enjoyed a long and fruitful legacy in the study of adolescent psychology and psychiatry. As conceived by Achenbach (1991), internalizing symptoms refer to problems of withdrawal, somatic complaints, and anxiety/depression while externalizing symptoms exhibit themselves in delinquent and aggressive behavior. This distinction continues to have significant heuristic value as it guides research dealing with classifications, descriptions, etiologies, comorbidities, underlying personality traits, and treatment relating to childhood and adolescent psychopathology (see Howell and Watson 2009). Indeed, it is one of the most important studied frameworks in the study of adolescent Problem Behavior Syndrome and disorders.
Adolescents can exhibit a remarkable range of internalizing and externalizing disorders. For example,...
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Levesque, R.J.R. (2011). Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms. In: Levesque, R.J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_539
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