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The fourth edition offers several exciting updates:

 A new chapter on research methods has been added. Chapter 3 begins by describing the essential features of scientific thinking and the dangers of relying on pseudoscience when working with children and families. The chapter presents common methods and designs used by researchers to (1) describe, (2) predict, and (3) explain children’s development and (4) replicate their findings.

 Each chapter has been revised to integrate information about the way social–cultural factors affect the presentation, prevalence, course, and treatment of each disorder. For example, chapters provide expanded coverage of the way children’s gender, ethnicity, language, religion, acculturation, migration experiences, or socioeconomic status might influence their development. Introductory chapters also include topics like intersectionality, culturally informed assessment practices, and social–ecological models of development.

 Evidence-based treatments for each disorder are organized based on their underlying theory or principles, rather than by their name brand. For example, evidence-based treatments for autism spectrum disorder are organized based on whether they emphasize applied behavior analysis, the developmental social–pragmatic model, or functional communication skills. Although specific name-brand treatments are still described in detail (e.g., Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, Early Start Denver Model, Picture Exchange Communication System), the emphasis is on the theory and principles behind each treatment. This emphasis on underlying theory, rather than on name-brand treatments, is consistent with the recommendations of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry regarding evidence-based treatments for children and families.

 Of course, each chapter has been updated to reflect the current, scientific research and recommended clinical practice. The prevalence and demographic distribution of several childhood problems has changed since the last edition of this book. For example, there has been a marked change in the prevalence and gender distribution of autism in the last 3 years that is now reflected in the current edition. Similarly, adolescents’ use of nicotine and marijuana vaping products has supplanted more traditional cigarette smoking and other tobacco use. Advances have also been made regarding risk and protective factors for nearly each disorder and new guidelines or practice parameters have been published regarding recommendations for assessment and treatment. A thorough listing of all of these updates is not possible in this brief summary. However, the text includes hundreds of new references, published in the past 3 years. The fourth edition is not merely an “updated” version of the previous editions; it expands upon its predecessors by presenting emerging topics and exciting new research.