Abnormal Psychology - Lecture Seven

Question 1

Neuro-developmental Disorders

Answer 1

Intellectual Disability, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD (also Externalising Disorders)

Question 2

Behaviour Disruptive Disorders

Answer 2

Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder

Question 3

Childhood disorders

Answer 3

Neuro-developmental Disorders, Behaviour Disruptive Disorders and Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Question 4

Why is defining childhood disorders so difficult?

Answer 4

Children are more likely to act out rather than seeking help, certain degree if deviance and irrational behaviour is norma for children, some psychological disorders in children cause little/no conscious distress

Question 5

Intellectual Disability

Answer 5

Present at birth and and persists throughout life

Question 6

Diagnostic criteria for Intellectual Disability

Answer 6

Onset before age 18, deficits in intellectual functioning determined by intelligence testing and as appropriate for social and cultural context and deficits in adaptive functioning

Question 7

Deficits in adaptive functioning

Answer 7

Communication, social and practical

Question 8

Types of deficits

Answer 8

Mild, moderate, severe and profound

Question 9

Genetic abnormality examples of Intellectual Disability

Answer 9

Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome

Question 10

Metabolic abnormality examples of Intellectual Disability

Answer 10

Phenylketonuria (PKU) and Tay-Sachs Disease

Question 11

Prenatal and Postnatal Complication examples of Intellectual Disability

Answer 11

Drug exposure (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), Anoxia at birth and Shaken Baby Syndrome

Question 12

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 12

Deficits in Social Communication
Restricted, repetitive behaviour pattern
Onset in early childhood
Ranges from mild to severe

Question 13

Deficits in Social Communication

Answer 13

Nonverbal behaviours, development of peer relations, social and emotional reciprocity

Question 14

Restricted, repetitive behaviour pattern

Answer 14

Stereotypic, repetitive speech, excessive adherence to routines, rituals, very restricted interests, with abnormal focus, hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input e.g. noise, excessive light, social crowds

Question 15

Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 15

ASD occurs in less than 1% of the population, symptoms are typically recognised during the 2nd year of life
4 times more common in boys than girls
In most cases there is no period of normal development; but developmental gains often occur in late childhood

Question 16

Genetic aetiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 16

90% Concordance rates for MZ twins

0% for DZ twins

Question 17

Aetiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 17

Genetics, brain abnormalities, prenatal and birthing factors and parenting/social stress

Question 18

Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 18

Modelling and operant conditioning
Communication training
Parent training
Community integration

Question 19

Externalising Disorders

Answer 19

Neuro-developmental (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder

Question 20

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnostic criteria

Answer 20

Inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity

Question 21

Three types of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity

Answer 21

Predominantly inattentive type
Predominantly hyperactive-impulse type
Combined type

Question 22

Inattention

Answer 22

Easily distracted
Can’t sustain attention
Makes lots of careless mistakes
Difficulty listening 
Doesn’t follow through on instructions
Difficulty organising
Avoids tasks requiring attention
Loses things 
Forgetful

Question 23

Hyperactivity/impulsivity

Answer 23

Fidgets 
Leaves seat when sitting expected
Runs and climbs excessively 
Difficulty playing quietly
“On the go” as if “driven by a motor”
Talks excessively
Blurts out answers
Difficulty waiting turn
Interrupts or intrudes on others

Question 24

Genetic aetiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 24

50-75% heritability rates

Question 25

Structural abnormality aetiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 25

Under-responsive prefrontal and striate regions - Dorsolateral region = attention executive

Question 26

Neuro-transmitter abnormality of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 26

Dopamine - associated with reward seeking

Question 27

Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 27

Biological and psychological

Question 28

Biological treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 28

Stimulant medications (e.g. Ritalin)
Non-stimulant medications (e.g. Strattera [Atomoxetine])

Question 29

Psychological treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Answer 29

Behaviour therapy

Question 30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms

Answer 30

Early onset
Argumentative 
Temper tantrums 
Authority problems
Refusal to comply with rules
Blame externalisations
Anger and resentment

Question 31

Conduct Disorder symptoms

Answer 31

More severe than ODD
Aggression to people and animals e.g. bullying, cruelty to animals, physical fights
Destruction of property e.g. vandalism, fire-setting
Deceitfulness or theft
Serious violation of rules
Childhood-onset (before age 10) and adolescent-onset (age 10 or later)
Limited Prosocial Emotions

Question 32

Conduct Disorder patients show two or more of the following characteristics persistently over at least 12 months and in more than one relationship or setting

Answer 32

Lack of Remorse or Guilt
Callous-Lack of Empathy
Unconcerned about Performance
Shallow or Deficient Affect

Question 33

Aetiology of Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder

Answer 33

Genetic factors, familial risk factors, sociocultural risk factors and peer groups and past antisocial behaviour in combination is best predictor

Question 34

Familial risk factor aetiology of Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder

Answer 34

Child abuse and family conflict

Question 35

Sociocultural risk factor aetiology of Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder

Answer 35

Poverty, dangerous neighbourhoods and past antisocial behaviour