CT 5 - The Child With A Mental Health Problem Flashcards

Question

what is secure attachment

Answer 1

Support mental processes that enable the child to regulate emotions, reduce fear, attune to others, have self-understanding and insight, empathy for others and appropriate moral reasoning

Answer 2

: If a child cannot rely on an adult to respond to their needs in times of stress, they are unable to learn how to soothe themselves, manage their emotions and engage in reciprocal relationships.

Answer 3

Most prominent between 6 and 36 months Differential smiling (6 months) and then stranger anxiety (9 months) appear first Leads to the development of affectional bonds and internal working models Seeking proximity to an attachment figure is a major part of how we manage anxiety It may be the only anxiety management strategy a toddler has! Maternal sensitivity Warmth Emotional responsiveness Involvement Reciprocity

Answer 4

Secure Secure base effect, distressed on separation, greets positively on return Insecure Difficult to settle/angry/ ignores on reunion Explores with no anxiety, Little distress on separation, ignore on reunion Fear of or for the care giver Insecure often associated with poor parenting/ abuse

Answer 5

Poverty -Parental mental health difficulties -Exposure to neglect, domestic violence or other forms of abuse -Alcohol/drug taking during pregnancy -Multiple home and school placements -Premature birth -Abandonment -Family bereavement

Answer 6

Trusting others and forming relationships - Following rules - Controlling their emotions (regulation) - Empathy and understanding others - Self-esteem

Answer 7

Can overlap with conditions such as ASC, ADHD but can also co-occur Maltreated children tend to be more aggressive than other children, show less empathy with other children’s distress and struggle significantly with peer relationships. These children may have developed a powerful way of being with others, characterised by control, distrust and rejection of authority and noncompliance. Research suggests that children who meet the clinical criteria for ODD or conduct disorder are four times more likely to have a disorganised attachment style Children who have been psychologically deprived are more likely to reject the help they badly need.

Answer 8

- Umbrella term, range of behavioural difficulties inc. CD and ODD - Above and beyond normal ‘naughty’ behaviour; >6m duration - At the most severe end will involve antisocial and criminal acts - Higher rates seen in some young people with ADHD and Autism - Interventions are focused on parenting skills - Can predict future problems with education, employment and relationships - Higher rates of drug use and criminal activity in young people meeting diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder - Oppositional defiant disorder- younger children; defiant, disobedient, disruptive but not aggressive or antisocial behaviour

Answer 9

- Prevention - Psychoeducation - Family therapy - Parenting support via social care - NICE CG158: Parenting interventions have evidence for 11 and under; child-focused groups recommended for older children but often not available

Answer 10

1) Secure Attachment – The healthiest style. People feel comfortable with intimacy and independence. They trust others and form stable relationships. Example: A child is upset when their caregiver leaves but is easily comforted when they return. 2) Anxious (Preoccupied) Attachment – People crave closeness but fear rejection or abandonment. Example: A child clings to their caregiver and struggles to calm down when left alone. 3) Avoidant (Dismissive) Attachment – People value independence and may struggle with emotional closeness. Example: A child doesn’t seek comfort from their caregiver and seems indifferent to their presence. 4) Disorganized Attachment – A mix of anxious and avoidant traits, often linked to trauma or inconsistent caregiving. Example: A child is confused or fearful around their caregiver, showing contradictory behaviors.