disorders and treatment Flashcards
what are the 3 factors that may lead to a diagnosis?
-statistical abnormality
-deviation from ‘ideal’ behavior
-abnormal behaviors as distressing and harmful to self and others
what are the 2 main system for diagnosis?
-DSM (american psychiatric association)
-ICD (world health organization)
what is the argument about labeling and diagnosis?
labeling facilitates professional communication
BUT
can stigmatize and lead to self-fulfilling prophecies
what types of disorders can children have and which ones did we focus most on in lecture?
-children can have most disorders that adults can have (except for personality disorders)
-focused most on autism (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
what is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
-wide spectrum of impairment
-repetitive behavior: rocking, spinning, hand movements (sometimes called stimming)
-sensitivity to environmental stimuli
-desire for routine
people who have autism may have impairment in what areas?
-social ability and interpretation of social situations
-communication skills; language delays
-sometimes cognitive impairment
-theory of mind
what are autistic savants?
-relatively rare
-remarkable abilities in a narrow area: art, memory, arithmetic, music, spatial skills
-ex: stephen wiltshire impressive artist
what are the causes of ASD?
-primarily biological: concordance rates for MZ twins between 70-90%
-parental age a risk factor
-differences in brain structure
T/F, brain growth during the first 2 years tends to be very fast but becomes abnormally slow during adolescence?
True
is autism due to vaccinations?
NO
what is the treatment for autism?
-applied behavioral analysis (ABA)
-developed by Ivar Lovaas and colleagues; bases in operant conditioning
-intensive therapy: requires a minimum of 40 hours/wk of treatment
what are some characteristics of ADHD?
-impulse control disorder
-restless, impulsive, inattentive
-can have inattention + hyperactivity or just one
-difficulty in following directions, maintaining attention on tasks, maintaining friendships
T/F? it is estimated that 11% of boys and 4% of girls have ADHD in the US?
true,
BUT a possibility of over-diagnosis
what are some causes of ADHD?
-biological: MZ twin concordance rate of 55%
-impairment in the connection between frontal lobes and the limbic system
-environmental risk factors: lead contamination, low birth weight, prenatal exposure to alcohol/tobacco
what is the treatment for ADHD?
-medications: ritalin, dexedrine, adderall
-meds increase dopamine, norepinephrine
-treatment using operant conditioning
-parent training
-classroom management
why are stimulants used in treatment for ADHD?
underactivity in frontal lobes which control impulsivity
what is the diathesis-stress model?
-general framework for understanding causes of disorders
-diathesis: predisposing factors (ex. genetics, personality traits, environment, early and prolonged stressors)
stress: precipitating or triggering factors (stressful major life events associated with the onset of psychopathological symptoms in adulthood)
what are the anxiety disorders we discussed in lecture? (5)
-generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
-panic disorder
-phobic disorder
-obsessive-compulsive disorder
-post traumatic stress disorder
what is anxiety?
-strong negative emotions
-physical tension because of anticipation of danger
what is generalized anxiety disorder?
-excessive anxiety and worry more days than not for 6 months
-person finds it difficult to control the worry
anxiety and worry is associated with at least 3 of these following symptoms:
-restlessness/feeling on edge
-easily fatigued
-difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
-irritability
-muscle tension
-sleep disturbance
what is panic disorder ?
-sudden occurrence of multiple physiological symptoms that contribute to a feeling of stark terror;panic attacks
what is agoraphobia?
an extreme fear of venturing into public or open spaces; correlates with panic disorder
t/f: panic disorder can occur with or without agoraphobia?
true
what is a phobia?
excessive fear of an object or situation
what is social anxiety?
fear of being scrutinized and criticized by others; meeting new people, public speaking
what is obsessive compulsive disorder?
-obsessions: repetitive, intrusive thoughts
-compulsions: ritualistic behaviors designed to fend off obsessions
what are possible causes of OCD?
-dysfunction in caudate nucleus of basal ganglia; involved in impulse suppression
-low serotonin
-strep infection as a young child
what is post-traumatic stress disorder?
-occurs after traumatic event
-hypervigilance
-avoidance of stimuli associated w/the trauma
-flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares
what is cognitive therapy?
helping a client identify and correct distorted thinking about self, others, or the world