Developmental Psych Flashcards
Describe developemental psychopathology and it’s branches
Understanding developmental psychopathology What is it? • What is normal? • Social context • Diagnosis
Psychological disorders that affect children Conduct disorder • ADHD • Depression • Autism
What is developmental psychopathology?
The origins and patterns of atypical behaviour over the lifespan
•Can guide preventions and interventions
•A developmental context to psychopathology
why study developmental psychopathology?
age of onset for: impulse-control disorders Schizophrenia Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Substance use disorders between 5-20
what are the core principles of developmetnal psychopathology?
•The developmental principle:
•Development is key to understanding psychopathology
•The normative principle:
We judge in comparison to what is considered “normal”
•The early precursors principle:
We need to look for early warning signs
•The multiple pathways principle:
We must consider multiple levels of functioning (e.g. genetic, social)
What is normal?
What is abnormal?
everyone now days thiks they’e “not normal” is it normal to feel this way?
give 3 models of abnormality
•Medical model Disorders come from within •Social model What causes “abnormality” is external •Statistical model Deviation from average
why is the DSM controversial?
•Diagnostic categories from the DSM-5
NB. DSM-5 has been very controversial!
would 2 clinicians give the same diagnosis?
outline issues with classifying disorders in childhood?
Undercontrolled conditions: The child appears to lack self-control, has a negative impact on others e.g. Conduct Disorder, ADHD
overcontrolled conditions: The child appears overly controlled, withdrawn, negative
e.g. Depression
pervasive developmental disorder PDD:
difficulties in cognitive, emotional and social development
e.g. Autism
what is conduct disorder?
Conduct disorder •Characterised by behaviour that violates the rights of others or major societal norms Aggression to people and animals Destruction of property Deceitfulness or theft Serious violations of rules
outline some CU traits
Callous-unemotional (CU) traits = lack of guilt and empathy for victims + callous behaviour for self gain •Highly heritable
- Difficulties with emotion processing, recognising facial expressions and fear
- CU traits can reduce over time following interventions
Is it OK to think of these children as mini-psychopaths?
Outline conduct disorder causes
•Risk factors (Murray et al., 2010): Impulsiveness Low IQ and low educational attainment Child abuse Parental conflict and disrupted families Socioeconomic factors Community influences
give osme treatments to conduct disorder
•Many treatments (e.g. problem solving skills or anger coping therapy) ineffective (Brestan & Eyberg, 1998) •Parenting interventions have some success – focus on rewarding desirable behaviour, handling bad behaviour, time out etc.
But CD tends to be resistant to treatment…
•More successful if early (Webster-Stratton et al., 2001)
What is ADHD?
- Inattention, overactivity and impulsivity •Boys diagnosed with ADHD twice as much as girls •Associated with anxiety, low self-esteem and learning disabilities
- Problems persist into adolescence and adulthood
give some ADHD causes
•Genetic component
Highly heritable - heritability 76%
•Brain differences
Frontal lobes delayed in development, smaller, underactivated
•Environmental factors Poverty, education, parenting, divorce, social class, maternal health…
give some ADHD treatments
•Psychostimulant medication e.g. methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Increases attention, positive effects for 50-96% of children with ADHD
•BUT risk of misuse and side effects (Singh, 2008)
•Psychosocial treatments
E.g. Behavioural and cognitivebehavioural therapy •Which type of treatment works best?
Children receiving medication or medication + therapy showed greatest improvement (Van der Oord et al., 2008)
