Child And Adolescent Psychiatry Flashcards
What is the impact of genetics, family and the wider social environment on the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorder in young people?
There may be a fear of leaving home, going to school which can lead to a psychiatric disorder eg learning difficulties, co morbid conditions, difficulty with emotion, lack of energy or motivation, sensory problems eg too loud, preoccupation eg fear of germs
Emotional contagion from families eg fearful parents lead to fearful children or vice versa
Autism, ADHD, depression and anxiety commonly associated with genetic disorders. Modulation of genes and influence of environmental factors on genetic expression
What are some features of the common psychiatric disorders that affect young people?
Anxiety: anxious thoughts and feelings, autonomic symptoms, avoidant behaviour
Conduct disorders
ODD: irritable, headstrong, learned behaviour, enacted to obtain desirable result, impaired parenting, associated with adversity
ADHD: impulsive aggression, poor cognitive control and ability to sustain a goal, often remorseful, resistant to pure behavioural management as there is a stronger genetic component
Autism: social reciprocation and communication, repetitive behaviour eg mannerisms, stereotypies, obsessions, rigid and inflexible patterns
Depression
OCD
What impact may a child psychiatric disorder have on normal development processes, the family and later adult life?
Early life stress influences function of lambic circuit including the amygdala, influences mood and patterns of response to threat including withdrawal and or aggressive response
Early experience of adversity can train the brain to adapt to a hostile environment and behavioural response of aggression.
Possible links of experience of adversity and the reward deficiency model of addiction eg increased behaviour need to feel good, leading to things such as obesity, drugs, alcohol, gambling, porn
