Franco Espeleta Santos, M.A.

The diagnosis of "Parent-Child Relational Problem" is given when the "focus of clinical attention is a pattern of interaction between parent and child (e.g., impaired communication, overprotection, inadequate discipline) that is associated with clinically significantt impairment in individual or family functioning or the development of clinically significant symptoms in parent or child."  (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision).)

Even with the most functional of families, it is not uncommon to hear parents complain of one child's unpredictable personality especially when there is a sibling with whom to compare the problematic child's behavior.  As a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, I view a person's behavior from a system's perspective.