3 Neurodiversity

Question 1

what are the 3 models of disability?

Answer 1

Impairment = structural diff in way their brain/body works.
Medical = impairment causes disability.
Social = society causes the disability due to barriers in place.

Question 2

who coined the term autism?

Answer 2

eugen bleuler, 1911.

Question 3

what does the national autistic society UK describe autism as?

Answer 3

lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate + interact w/ the world.

Question 4

DSM 5 criteria for ASD? (5)

Answer 4

difficulties in social comm + interaction.
restricted + repetitive behaviours.
symptoms present from early age.
symptoms must cause sig impairments.
symptoms aren’t better exp by diff disorder.

Question 5

what are disorders associated w/ ASD?

Answer 5

intellectual disability, anxiety, depression.

Question 6

what are meltdowns + shutdowns + stimming?

Answer 6

meltdowns (outward) + shutdowns (inward)= behavioural response to overload, changes in routine, differ from person to person.
stimming = repeated actions that vary from person to person - distract from sensory overload/ provide sensory input/ just enjoyable.

Question 7

how many people are diagnosed w/ autism?

Answer 7

> 1 in 100 UK.
1 in 36 US.
males 4x more likely.

Question 8

Aetiology of autism?

Answer 8

older - related to schizophrenia “refrigerator mums”.
neurodevelopmental - maternal infection during pregnancy, maternal use of drugs, difficult birth, older parents.
neurobio - changes in amygdala function.

Question 9

Treatment for autism?

Answer 9

No cure.
Not universal - tailored to individual.
behavioural support, speech therapy, occupational therapy.
drugs - antidepressants, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, stimulants.

Question 10

what treatment for ASD was criticised?

Answer 10

applied behaviour analysis - used rewards + punishments.
“train autism out”.

Question 11

What is ADHD?

Answer 11

neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by restlessness, poor conc, impulsivity.

Question 12

what’s a common comorbidity of ADHD?

Answer 12

ASD - some symptom overlap.
CDC - 64% have comorbid condition.

Question 13

DSM 5 for ADHD? (5)

Answer 13

Symptoms in group a/b/both - a = inattention, must have for 6 months + impact functioning.
-b = hyperactivity + impulsivity.
Several of symptoms present to age 12.
Present in at least 2 settings.
Qual of academic, social, occupational func is impaired.
Symptoms not better exp by another disorder.

Question 14

How many are diagnosed w/ ADHD?

Answer 14

5% of children UK.
CDC - 7.2% of US.
males 2x more likely.
3.5% UK adults.

Question 15

Aetiology of ADHD?

Answer 15

High heritable but no single gene/
environment - low birth weight, maternal smoking/alcohol, brain injury, lead exposure, food colouring?

Question 16

neurobio of ADHD?

Answer 16

reduction in brain vol.
structural changes in PFC, striatum - involved in attention + behavioural regulation.
maybe reduced NA levels.

Question 17

Treatment for ADHD?

Answer 17

<5yrs = behavioural management therapy, training for parents, environmental modifications.
>5 - maybe meds.
adults = environmental modifications, meds, psych interventions.

Question 18

what are some meds used to treat ADHD?

Answer 18

ritalin, dexamfetamine, atomexin - DAT/NET inhibitors.
Modafinil - DAT inhibitor.
Effects on histamine transmission.

Question 19

what’s Tourette syndrome (TS)?

Answer 19

tic disorder.

Question 20

what are tics?

Answer 20

Involuntary actions, motor/vocal.
simple = limited no of body parts, complex = multiple.
freq preceded by premonitory urge.

Question 21

DSM 5 criteria for TS?

Answer 21

multiple motor + vocal tics, many times per day for at least a yr. began before 18, not due to another cause.

Question 22

How many have TS?

Answer 22

once thought rare.
freq now thought to be 1%.
tics most severe at 10-12 yrs.
decline during adolescence but may persist into andulthood.

Question 23

Aetiology of TS?

Answer 23

Risk is heritable - 50-75% in MZ, 23% in DZ.
No definitive TS genes identified.
excess dopaminergic transmission.
Environment - paternal age, difficult birth, low birthweight, maternal drug use during pregnancy.

Question 24

Treatment of TS?

Answer 24

not all want treatment.
behavioural approaches/ coping strategies.
more severe cases require meds - dopamine D2 antagonists (haloperidol, nicotine).