Chapter 11 - Abnormal Behaviour Across the Lifespan Flashcards
what percentage of people over the age of 65 are diagnosed with psychological disorders?
10-20%
what percentage of Canadian children will develop a mental disorder?
10-20%
what are the four most common categories of mental disorders in children?
- anxiety disorders
- conduct disorders
- ADHD
- depressive disorders
what percentage of high school students report moderate to serious anxiety and depressive symptoms?
34%
what percentage of high school students have had serious suicidal thoughts?
12%
what are neurodevelopmental disorders?
disorders that begin in the developmental period
when do neurodevelopmental disorders generally become evident?
in the first few years of life
what are neurodevelopmental disorders associated with?
personal, social, or academic impairments
when does autism spectrum disorder usually become evident?
in toddlers between 12 and 18 months of age
what are the behavioural deficits present in autism spectrum disorder? (6)
- social communication
- social interactions
- restricted or fixated interests
- repetitive behaviours
- inflexible adherence to routines
- hyper or hyporeactivity to sensory input
what is the cognitive-behavioural perspective of neurodevelopmental disorders?
perceptual deficits that limit them to processing only one stimulus at a time
what are the cognitive theories of neurodevelopmental disorders? (2)
- perceptual and cognitive deficits diminish the capacity to comprehend and apply social rules
- theory of mind hypothesis
what are the biological perspectives of neurodevelopmental disorders? (2)
- neurodevelopmental deficits
- genetics
what are the treatment options for neurodevelopmental disorders? (4)
- early intensive behavioural intervention
- behavioural, speech, and occupational therapy
- antipsychotic medication
- interactive computer programs
is there a cure for autism spectrum disorder?
no
what are the 3 criteria used in the DSM-5 for diagnosing intellectual disability?
- deficits in intellectual functions as indicated by clinicians and standardized testing
- evidence of impaired functioning in adaptive behaviour
- onset of the disorder in the developmental period
what are the 4 classifications of developmental delay?
- mild (IQ 55-70)
- moderate (IQ 40-55)
- severe (IQ 25-40)
- profound (IQ below 25)
what are the biological causes of intellectual disability? (4)
- chromosomal and genetic disorders
- infectious diseases
- brain damage
- spontaneous mutilations in paternal sperm or maternal egg cell
what is down syndrome?
chromosomal abnormality involving an extra chromosome on the 21st pair (trisomy 21)
what is down syndrome characterized by?
intellectual disabilities and physical abnormalities
what is the prevalence of down syndrome?
1 in 800 births
what are the features of down syndrome? (5)
- round face; broad, flat nose; and small, downward sloping folds of skin at the inside corners of the eyes
- protruding tongue; small, squarish hands and short fingers; small arms and legs in relation to their bodies
- intellectual disability
- heart defects
- death in midlife
what causes fragile X syndrome?
mutated gene on the X sex chromosome
what is the prevalence of fragile X syndrome?
1 in 4000 males and 1 in 8000 females
what are the characteristics of fragile X syndrome?
mild to profound learning disabilities
what is phenylketonuria (PKU)?
genetic disorder that prevents the metabolization of phenylpyruvic acid
what are the characteristics of phenylketonuria? (3)
- causes damage to the central nervous system
- intellectual disability
- emotional disturbance
what causes Tay-Sachs disease?
recessive gene on chromosome 15 (disease of lipid metabolism)
what are the characteristics of Tay Sachs disease? (5)
- gradual loss of muscle control
- deafness and blindness
- intellectual disability
- paralysis
- usually die before the age of 5
what are the prenatal factors associated with intellectual disability? (2)
- maternal infections (rubella and CMV)
- substance abuse during pregnancy (FAS)
what are the characteristics of cultural/familial intellectual disability? (3)
- milder form of intellectual disability
- results from impoverishment in the child’s home environment
- lack toys, books, or opportunities to interact with adults in intellectually stimulating ways
what are the types of interventions for children with intellectual disabilities? (3)
- integrated classrooms
- behavioural approaches (verbal instructions, physical guidance and reward, and social-skills training)
- psychological counselling
how does the DSM-5 classify specific learning disorder?
a single disorder with 3 subtypes
what are the 3 subtypes of specific learning disorder?
- impairment in mathematics
- impairment in written expression
- impairment in reading
what is the prevalence of specific learning disorders in Canadian children ages 5-14 years?
4.1% of boys and 2.2% of girls
what are the characteristics of dyslexia? (3)
- impaired reading ability
- children may read slowly, distort, omit, or substitute words when reading aloud
- trouble decoding letters
what is the prevalence of dyslexia?
accounts for 80% of learning disability cases
what is an impairment in mathematics characterized by?
difficulty understanding basic mathematical terms or operations (addition or subtraction, decoding mathematical symbols, and learning sequential facts such as multiplication tables)
what are the characteristics of impairment in written expression? (3)
- dysgraphia
- errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation
- difficulty in composing sentences and paragraphs
what is an individual education plan?
document that contains learning and behavioural outcomes for a student, with a description of how outcomes will be achieved and evaluated
what are the key features of ADHD? (2)
- neurodevelopmental disorder
- characterized by excessive motor activity, impulsivity, and/or an inability to focus one’s attention
what are the three subtypes of ADHD?
- predominantly inattentive type
- predominantly hyperactive or impulsive type
- combination type characterized by high levels of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity
what is the prevalence of ADHD in children aged 6-14?
5-10%
what are the characteristics of inattention? (4)
- difficulty following instructions
- difficulty organizing and completing tasks
- forgetful and loses things
- easily distracted
what are the characteristics of hyperactivity and impulsivity? (4)
- fidgets or taps hands and feet
- leaves seat or runs around
- talks excessively, blurts out or interrupts
- difficulty waiting for their turn
what are the genetic and environmental perspectives of ADHD? (3)
- abnormalities in the areas of the brain involved in regulating the processes of attention, inhibition of motor behaviour, and executive control
- prenatal exposure to smoking
- lead exposure in children
what are the treatment options for ADHD? (4)
- stimulants (ritalin and concerta), which improve attention and reduces impulsivity, overactivity, and disruptive behaviour
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- behavioural modification (reinforcement)
- cognitive modification (self talk through steps)
what are the characteristics of conduct disorder? (2)
- intentional patterns of antisocial behaviour that violates social norms and the rights of others
- do not experience guilt or remorse
what is the prevalence of conduct disorder?
4.2% of Canadian children and youth
what are the four categories of behaviours in conduct disorder?
- aggressive to people and animals
- destruction of property
- deceitfulness or theft
- serious violation of rules
what is oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) characterized by?
excessive oppositionality or tendencies to refuse requests from parents and others
what are the three categories of behaviours in ODD?
- angry/irritable mood
- argumentative
- defiant behaviour and vindictiveness
what is the prevalence of ODD?
6-12% of school aged children
what are the family and parenting factors associated with disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders? (3)
- lack of positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviour
- harsh and inconsistent discipline for misbehaviour
- parental aggression
what are the treatment options for disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders? (2)
- psychosocial interventions such as parent training, affect regulation, interpersonal and social-skills training, family therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy
- antipsychotic and stimulant drugs may be effective in reducing antisocial behaviour
what are the characteristics of neurocognitive disorders? (2)
- not psychologically based
- brain is either damaged or impaired in its ability to function due to injury, illness, exposure to toxins, or use or abuse of psychoactive drugs
what are the 3 types of neurocognitive disorders according to the DSM-5?
- delirium
- major neurocognitive disorders
- mild neurocognitive disorders
what is delirium?
a state of extreme mental confusion
what are the characteristics of delirium? (3)
- people have difficulty focusing their attention, speaking clearly and coherently
- disorientation
- hallucinations
what are the causes of delirium? (2)
- the result of abrupt withdrawal from psychoactive drugs, especially alcohol (younger patients)
- a sign of a life-threatening medical condition (older patients)
what is the prevalence of delirium?
- 1-2% of the population
- 14% among people over the age of 85
what are the treatment options for delirium? (3)
- medication (neuroleptics)
- environment changes
- family support
what is major neurocognitive disorder (dementia)?
profound decline or deterioration in mental functioning
what is dementia characterized by? (2)
- significant impairment of memory, thinking processes, attention, and judgement
- specific cognitive deficits
what is Alzheimer’s Disease?
degenerative brain disease that leads to progressive, irreversible dementia
what is Alzheimer’s Disease characterized by?
memory loss and deterioration of other cognitive functions
what are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease? (5)
- agitation
- wandering
- depression
- aggressive behaviour
- bewilderment and fear, which may lead to paranoid delusions of betrayal
what are amyloid plaques?
accumulation of protein fragments, normally broken down in healthy brains. In AD, accumulate to form hard, insoluble plaques between neurons
what are neurofibrillary tangles?
pathological protein aggregates (or brain lesions) found within brain cells (in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Contributes to the degradation of neurons
what does the depletion of acetylcholine contribute to?
significant memory deficits
how is Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosed? (3)
- memory tests
- MRI brain scans to measure hippocampus size and measurement of amyloid proteins
- PET brain scans to detect metabolic abnormalities in the brain
what are the symptoms that occur in the early stages of AD? (2)
- memory problems and subtle personality changes
- trouble with finances, remembering recent events, basic information such as phone numbers, area codes, postal codes, and names
what are the characteristics of moderately severe AD? (6)
- people require assistance
- difficulties in toileting and bathing
- errors in recognizing themselves in mirrors
- difficulties in speaking full sentences
- movement and coordination functions deteriorate
- agitation becomes a prominent feature
what are the symptoms of advanced AD? (5)
- severe decline in cognitive functions
- lose ability to speak or control body movements
- require assistance in toileting and feeding
- unable to communicate, walk, or sit up
- seizures, coma, and death
what are the causes of AD? (5)
- build-up of amyloid plaques leads to inflammation, which damages sensitive networks of neurons involved in memory formation and memory storage
- inflammation may be an autoimmune disease
- genes linked to production of beta amyloid or to an abnormal build-up of plaques and tangles
- environmental factors such as stress
- alcohol use
what are the treatment options for AD? (2)
- donepezil (aricept) increases levels of acetylcholine
- antipsychotics for agitation and aggression
what are the methods for possible prevention of AD? (4)
- potential preventive effects of anti-inflammatories
- cognitive activities (puzzles, newspapers, and word games)
- regular exercise program
- healthy diet low in animal fat and rich in vegetables and fish
