ADHD And Autism Flashcards
ADHD
- Persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity
- Hyperactivity = fidgeting
- Impulsivity = impatience, immediate rewards, dangerous activities etc.
Diagnostics subtypes of ADHD
- Attendion deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Predominantly inattentive presentation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation
- Combined presentation
Diagnosing ADHD
- At least 12 years and symptoms from DSM-5 found in two or more contexts/settings
- Higher rate than other psychopathologies.
- Cognitive tests: stroop test, continuous performance, trail making, contextual word association, ADOS
Comorbidity of ADHD
- Oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder
- Anxiety and depressive disorders
Prevalence of ADHD + consequences
- 5% of school-age children
- 2.5% of adults
- More common in boys than girls but symptoms are not sex specific
- More outbursts, stubbornness, poor self esteem, inattentive = affects academics, hyperactivity = peer/social relationships, work and safety also affected.
Biological etiology of ADHD: genetic factors
- Most heritable (16% in twin studies)
- Chromosome 16 = most linkage
- Dopamine transporter genes (D4, D5, SNAP-25 - genes that release dopamine)
- Genes identified link to abnormalities in Neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine.
- Environment activates the genes.
Biological etiology of ADHD: Neuroscience
- Smaller brains (3.2%, with all lobes and global reduction of grey matter as affected areas)
- Peak thickness of the cortex (50%) is reached by 10.5, and not 7.5 yrs.
- Deficit in executive functioning (frontal lobe) = low attention
- Cornico-striatal something
Biological etiology of ADHD: Prenatal factors
- Smoking/drinking/childbirth complications (low birth weight, respiratory distress and asphyxia) influence genetic predisposition of ADHD.
- Nicotine causes abnormalities in the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system.
Biological etiology of ADHD: Environmental toxins
- Hyperactivity = from biochemical imbalances caused by food additives/refined sugar cane/lead poisoning.
Psychological etiology of ADHD: Parent-child interaction
- Parents who have/had ADHD = child has ADHD.
- ADHD = ineffective and inconsistent parenting.
- Authoritarian parenting methods increase hyperactivity = disruptive child > discipline > defiant reaction > acute
- The child’s behavior needs attention from the parents, and that attention may either be rewarding or reinforcing them.
Psychological etiology of ADHD: Theory of Mind deficits
- Ability to understand one’s own and other people’s mental states.
- Inconsistent evidence for the link with ADHD but consistent with neuroscience view.
Treatment of ADHD: Psycho-stimulants (+paradoxical effect)
- Increases central nervous system activity.
- Increases alertness, arousal and attention
- Immediate and noticeable improvements in 75% of children
- Ritalin, Dexedrine, Cylert, Adderall
- Side effects: decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, physical growth.
- Long-term
- Learning and growth are at concern.
- Paradoxical effect: abused drugs = restless but not the case.
Treatment of ADHD: Alternatives
- Strattera: norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, for adults, less effective, dangerous side effects (suicidal thoughts)
- Clonidine: decrease aggression, combination with stimulants, adults + high blood pressure.
- Antidepressants: second line, justified only if psycho-stimulants dont work, indirectly affects ADHD.
Non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD - Article
Methods:
- Review of data available
Results:
- Preschooler = parent training
- School children with moderate impairments = group parent training + classroom behavioral interventions
- Middle school/adolescent children = multimodal interventions (home + school treatment strategies (social skills training))
- Adults = stimulant medication + CBT
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Early infancy symptoms can be seen.
- Developmental delays: social, emotional, intellectual, language and communication, and stereotyped/self-injurious behavior patterns.
- Social impairment: non verbal, cannot understand clues, no TOM.