Developmental psychiatry

Question 1

What are the 2 main things which happen in brain remodelling?

Answer 1

“Pruning” where many synapses are either formed or destroyed in order to specialise the brain (differentiate)
Myelin forms which makes signals a lot faster (linkage)

Question 2

Why use mindsight exercises as an adolescent?

Answer 2

Kindness

Compassion

Question 3

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 3

Brain’s response to experience

Question 4

Cortex matures

Answer 4

Ability to override emotional outbursts and coordinate movement

Question 5

Are ADHD and autism genetic?

Answer 5

There is a strong genetic link

Question 6

What are some maternal health issues related to development issues?

Answer 6

Antibodies
Obesity
Diabetes

Question 7

What are some toxins typically linked to developmental issues?

Answer 7

Lead
Mercury
PCB’s

Question 8

What are some signs of foetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 8

Low body weight.
Poor coordination.
Hyperactive behaviour
Difficulty with attention
Poor memory
Difficulty in school (especially with math)
Learning disabilities
Speech and language delays
Vision and hearing issues
Heart/kidney/bone issues

Question 9

What is low white matter connectivity associated with?

Answer 9

Neural "noise"
Cognitive instability
ADHD 
Poor concentration
Distractibility

Question 10

What is toxic stress?

Answer 10

Long-term stress which undermines child’s sense of safety and support

Question 11

What are some functions affected by toxic stress?

Answer 11

Digestion
BP
Muscle tension
Development of stress threshold

Question 12

What is attachment?

Answer 12

Proximity-seeking behaviour
The infant seeking contact with parent when frightened, injured or ill
Attachment changes across the life span

Question 13

How is the brain affected by early life stress?

Answer 13

Limbic circuit including amygdala

Influences mood and patterns of response to threat including withdrawal and/or aggressive response

Question 14

What are the main concepts in psychological development?

Answer 14

Reward-based learning
Executive Function
Delay-aversion
Sharing emotion and empathy
Expressed emotion

Question 15

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 15

Dopamine neurons fire when you associate an action with a subsequent reward
Determines reward/punishment pathways

Question 16

How does early adversity affect DA response?

Answer 16

Early adversity reduces dopamine function
Decreased reward sensitivity
Increased behaviour required to elicit reward and increased reward required for satiety
Increased tolerance

Question 17

How are executive and cortical control applied in CBT?

Answer 17

Taking control over ‘automatic’ and learned behaviours
Inhibit prepotent responses
Intentional decision-making and forward planning
Requires self-awareness and capacity to self-monitor

Question 18

How does empathy develop in an infant?

Answer 18

Infant-mother interaction allows picking up of emotions

Question 19

What level of empathy usually develops by 6 weeks?

Answer 19

Sensorimotor control emerging at 6 weeks (smiling intentionally)

Question 20

What level of empathy usually develops by about 24 months?

Answer 20

Able to recognise and label emotions

Question 21

What kind of emotional/empathetic development should be present by 3-4 years?

Answer 21

Self-awareness of emotion
Able to deceive, Understands
Feels
Understands motive and context