Child and Adolescent psychiatry Flashcards
What are some mental health problems associated with being out of school?
Anxiety Conduct disorder Autism Depression OCD
How might mental health problems affect school attendance?
Learning difficulty Difficulty controlling emotion Anxiety Apathy Difficulty joining in Sensory overload Preoccupation
What is separation anxiety?
Fear of leaving parents and home
Problems on doorstep
What is a social phobia?
Fear of joining group
Problems at school gate
What are the 3 A’s of anxiety disorders?
Anxious thoughts/feelings
Autonomic symptoms
Avoidant behavious
How do children usually present? Who requests for them?
School Social care Parents GP Usually with a problem e.g. child who is very hyperactive or doesn't want to eat
What may be causing unwillingness to go to school?
Learning difficulties Lack of friends and relationships Bullying Lack of parental attention or concern Maternal depression
How does GAD affect amygdala?
Amygdala activity is supressed by right ventrolateral cortex when labelling emotions
Reduced connectivity between right ventrolateral cortex and amygdala
How do you manage a child scared of school?
Behavioural therapies like learning alternative patterns of behaviour, desensitisation, overcoming fear, managing feelings
SSRI like fluoxetine if extreme and untreatable
What are the long term effects of successful behavioural therapy?
Challenge
Success
Self-confidence
Resilience
What are the long-term effects of no behavioural treatment?
Challenge
Avoidance
Low self-confidence
Vulnerability
What is psychoeducation in therapy?
Explaining the problem in terms that make sense to everyone
What is autism spectrum disorder?
Reciprocal conversation Expressing emotional concern Non-verbal communication Poor eye contact Obsession/preoccupation Rigid and inflexible behaviour patterns
What are some congenital/genetic disorders strongly associated with ASD?
Rubella Callosal agenesis Down's syndrome Fragile X Tuberous sclerosis
How does ASD affect depression, OCD, anxiety and language impairment rates?
Increased
Why are there more ASD individuals in computing, engineering and mathematics?
Poor set-shifting ability
Increased visuospatial ability
Is GABA associated with ASD?
Yes
Found preferentially at glutaminergic sites
How does severity of neurotransmitter dysfunction affect ASD?
Increased LD and affects synaptic function, neural migration, brain development
What are some key features of oppositional defiant disorder?
Refusal to obey adults requests Often argues Often loses temper Deliberately annoys people Touchy Spiteful or vindictive
What are some differences in adhd compared to odd?
Often remorseful
More genetic cause than adversity/parenting
Poor cognitive control compared to enacting to obtain a desired goal
What are some useful steps for hard-to-manage children?
Parent training
Multi-systemic treatment attempts to correct all causes
What is parent training?
Focus on positive reinforcement of desired behaviour and developing positive parent-child relationships
Highlight to parents the effect of their actions and how kids mimic them
