Lecture 15: Externalising Disorders of Childhood

Question 1

what are 3 externalising disorders of childhood?

Answer 1

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Conduct Disorder (CD)

Question 2

what are externalising disorders?

Answer 2

refers to dysregulated behaviour

Question 3

What do children with ADHD display?

Answer 3

Children with ADHD display age-inappropriate levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity

Question 4

what do symptoms need to be to be diagnosed as ADHD?

Answer 4

• be present before age 12
• occur across 2 or more settings
• cause significant impairment in every day functioning

Question 5

are are the symptoms of Inattention?

Answer 5

• easily distracted
• can’t sustain attention
• makes lots of careless mistakes
• difficulty listening
• doesn’t follow through on instructions
• difficulty organising
• avoids tasks requiring attention
• loses things
• forgetful

Question 6

what are the symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity

Answer 6

• fidgets
• leaves seat when sitting expected
• difficulty playing quietly
• “on the go” as if “driven by a motor
• talks excessively
• blurts out answers
• difficulty waiting turn
• interrupts or intrudes on others

Question 7

what are the 3 types of ADHD?

Answer 7

• predominantly inattentive
• predominantly hyperactive
• combined

Question 8

how can you tell the difference between the 3 types?

Answer 8

6/9 inattentive symptoms and less than 6 hyperactive symptoms = predominantly inattentive

6/9 hyperactive symptoms and less than 6 inattentive symptoms = predominantly hyperactive

6 or more of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms = combined

Question 9

what are some causes of ADHD?

Answer 9

• heredity
• genetics
• neuroanatomy
• neuropsychological functioning

Question 10

how do we treat ADHD?

Answer 10

• medication (ritalin)

- behaviour modification (changing setting of classroom)

Question 11

what do children with ODD display?

Answer 11

children with oDD display an age-inappropriate pattern of stubborn, hostile and defiant behaviours

Question 12

what are symptoms of ODD?

Answer 12

• losing temper
• arguing
• breaking rules
• annoying others
• feeling angry
• feeling resentful
• being spiteful

Question 13

what causes ODD?

Answer 13

• temperament (more associated with the environment)

- parent-child interactions (rely on parents to teach us how to regulate negative emotions)

Question 14

how do you treat ODD?

Answer 14

• behaviour management (focus on emotional regulation)

- parent-child interaction therapy

Question 15

what do children with CD display?

Answer 15

children with CD exhibit:

• aggression toward people and animals
• the destruction of property
• deceitfulness or theft
• serious violations of rules

Question 16

what are etiological models (causes) of CD?

Answer 16

• genetic influences
• parental psychopathology (e.g. parent has own psychological issues)
• psychobiology (CD produce lower levels of cortisol. less affected by punishment)
• family influences (poorer levels of supervision, inconsistent discipline)
• patterson’s bidirectional hypothesis (parents let child have their emotional reactions since they can’t manage it, then it gets to a point where they get angry and have an emotional reaction themselves - this is inconsistent for a child)
• social-cognitive/information processing biases (children with CD have lower verbal IQ, have difficulties with expression emotions verbally)
• peer influence

Question 17

what are the risk factors of CD?

Answer 17

• individual/genetic
• parent-child interactions
• family climate
• neighbourhood/school

Question 18

what are the treatment options for CD?

Answer 18

• parent management training
• behavioral/contingency management
• cognitive behavioural therapy
• psychopharmacological
• multi-systemic therapy (focusing on multiple aspects)