ADHD Flashcards
Majority of kids have ____________, but can just have __________
combined hyperactivity-inattentive subtype, inattentive
Is ‘inattention’ a misnomer?
- kids with ADHD do not have a problem with perception/filtering/ processing
- their difficulties are primarily with persistence - ie the capacity to sustain action/attention towards a goal/task
ADHD is a failure to direct behaviour forward in time - to persist towards delayed end points
Persistence (attention) relies on the ability to…
resist distractions.
Children with ADHD do not perceive/encode distractions differently but rather
- respond to distractions more than other children
- react to events that are irrelevant to the goal
- have difficulty re-engaging in tasks following interruption
- skip from one incomplete task to another
This ‘inattention’ may largely reflect…
impaired working memory
What’s missing from current DSM criteria?
Emotional impulsivity.
While ADHD is not a mood disorder or emotional disorder, it is nonetheless associated with poor emotional control.
Children with ADHD have difficulties self-soothing, down-regulating, in order to express emotions in ways that are socially acceptable, or consistent with longer-term goals
ADHD is ____ comorbid with ODD and ___ comorbid with CD
50, 20
ODD can be differentiated from ADHD how?
ODD is not about attention but rather deliberately annoying others, blaming others, and arguing with authority figures. There is an inability to not be angry
In DSM-5, ADHD is currently conceptualised as a _____ disorder
neurodevelopmental
ADHD clusters with autism, motor coordination, reading/learning disabilities
Despite DSM-5’s criterion of a cut-off date of 12 years, a true ADHD case would show symptoms since
mid-primary school
____ of children with ADHD are comorbid with at least one Axis 1 disorder
2/3
What is the developmental trajectory of ADHD?
Hyperactivity symptoms are most pronounced in preschool and decline over time.
Inattention symptoms become increasingly apparent with age, as peers undergo rapid maturation of prefrontal cortex, and as school demands intensify
What are some non-genetic possible causes of ADHD?
Exposure to Teratogens and toxins during critical phases of pregnancy
- household, outdoor pesticides
- prenatal nicotine
- lead
- paracetamol?
Synthetic food colours - probably fake
Quantitative genetics refers to…
Twin studies research
Average genetic contribution of ADHD based on twin studies is ___, which is higher than ________
0.8, schizophrenia
High levels of parental involvement associated with…
reduced hyperactivity/inattention during early childhood