Abnormal Psychology L7 Flashcards
Why are childhood disorders difficult to define?
- Children are more likely to act out rather then seek help
- A certain degree of deviance and irrational behavior is normal
- Some psychological disorders in children cause little/no conscious distress
What are the diagnostic criteria for Intellectual Disability?
Present from birth onwards (no cure)
Both:
2 standard deviations (or more) below mean on iq distribution (below 70)
Significant impairment in functioning
What are the three types of Intellectual Disability?
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Profound
What causes Intellectual Disability?
Genetic abnormalities (ie down-syndrome)
Metabolic abnormalities affecting brain development(ie PKU)
Prenatal and Postnatal Complications (ie fetal alcohol syndrome)
What is the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
. Deficits in social communication
. Restricted, repetitive behavior patterns
. Most importantly, exists as a spectrum.
Autism is ________ in nature
heterogeneous (spectrum)
What does “deficits of social communication” entail?
- nonverbal behaviors
- development of peer relations
- social and emotional reciprocity
What does ““restricted, repetitive behavior patterns” entail?
- stereotypic, repetitive speech
- excessive adherence to routines and rituals
- very restricted interests with abnormal focus
- hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input
How many people does ASD affect?
less than 1% of the population
When are the symptoms of ASD typically recognized?
2nd year of life.
ASD is ___ times as common in boys as girls.
4
What causes ASD?
Genetics (high heritability)
Brain abnormalities
- cerebellum, limbic system, amygdala, white matter
Prenatal and birthing factors
ASD is caused mostly by…
Biological factors.
How do we treat ASD?
- modelling and operant training
- communication training
- training parents to manage ASD
- community integration
What are Externalizing Disorders defined by?
Maladaptive behaviors
What are the three most common Externalizing Disorders?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Conduct Disorder
What is the diagnostic criteria of ADHD?
Inattention (persistent across contacts and beyond what is expected of normal development)
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
What causes ADHD?
Genetic influence (50-75% heritability rate) Brain abnormalities (underactivity in prefrontal cortex) Neurotransmitter abnormalities (dopamine)
ADHD is very clearly a…
neurodevelopmental disorder (brain disorder)
How do you treat ADHD?
Biological medication . Stimulants - Ritalin (activates the prefrontal cortex) . Non-stimulants - Straterra Psychological . Behavior therapy
Describe Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
. Early onset . Argumentative . Temper tantrums . Authority problems . Refusal to comply with rules . Anger and resentment . Blame externalization
Describe Conduct Disorder
- More severe version of ODD
- Aggression directed to everyone and everything (animals)
- Physically aggressive
- Deceitfulness and theft
- Arson
Childhood onset before 10
Adolescent onset after 10.
A certain amount of those diagnosed with Conduct Disorder meet the criteria for…
Limited Prosocial Emotions
Describe “Limited Prosocial Emotions”
- Lack of remorse or guilt
- Callous lack of empathy
- Unconcerned about performance
- Shallow or deficient affect
What causes ODD and CD
- Genetic factors
- Familial risk factors (domestic violence)
- Sociocultural risk factors (poverty)
- Peer groups and past antisocial behavior is the best predictor of conduct disorder
How do we treat ODD and CD
- Family focused (training parents, fixing broken families)
- Child focused (behavior modification)
- Prevention focused (intervening with at-risk children)
