Module 1 - introduction to developmental psychopathology

Question 1

what is developmental psychopathology? [L1]

Answer 1

an approach to studying disorders of childhood and adolescence that emphasizes the interacting and dynamic factors that influence developmental trajectories. focusing on the processes that underlie development in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders, psychological disorders, and neurodivergence.

Question 2

what is behaviourism? [L1]

Answer 2

an approach to psychology that restricts the scientific inquiry to observable behaviour; behaviour is learned through principles of reinforcement (still influential today)

Question 3

what are the 5 periods of development? [L1]

Answer 3

prenatal, infancy and toddlerhood, early and middle childhood, adolescence, emerging adult

Question 4

how do we define/identify what is normal or typical? (3 ways) [L1]

Answer 4

1) statistical deviance , the infrequency of certain emotions, cognitions, and or behaviours
2) the sociocultural norms, the beliefs and expectations - in a given time or place or of a group of people - about what kinds of emotions, cognitions and or behaviours are problematic, undesirable, or unacceptable
3) mental health definitions, theoretical or clinically based notions of distress and dysfunction

Question 5

typical development in terms of statistical deviance

Answer 5

measuring where you fall compared to others of the same age. 68% fall in range within 15 points of 100 1SD above or below 100). 95% of people fall in range within 30 points of 100 (2SD above or below 100).

Question 6

Psychological disorder taxonomy: the DSM versions

Answer 6

DSM-I (1952)
* Contained very few references to children
* Based solely on clinical experience

DSM-III
* Aimed to be in line with psychiatry/medicine
* Specific symptom thresholds and exclusion criteria added
* Facilitated research

DSM-IV
* More research based
* Working groups

DSM-V (2013)
* Dimensional considerations (e.g., ASD, severity)
* Added section on “development and course”

DSM-V-TR (2022)
* 22 broad classes of disorders, and then a bunch of sub, smaller within

Question 7

definition of psychopathology:

Answer 7

(the “what” in psychology): intense, frequent, and/or persistent maladaptive patterns of emotion, cognition, and behaviour

Question 8

define developmental psychopathology:

Answer 8

the “ how” of psychology, emphasizes that the maladaptive patterns occur in the context of typical development and result in the current and potential impairment of infants, children and adolescents

Question 9

2 models of child development, psychopathology and treatment

Answer 9

dimensional and categorical models

Question 10

categorical models

Answer 10

(similar to DSM), emphasize discrete and qualitative differences in individual patterns of emotion, cognition, and behaviour. there are clear distinctions between what normal and what is not. sometimes referred to as discontinuous or qualitative.

Question 11

limitations of categorical models:

Answer 11

• when different disorders can coexist together
• if missing one of the symptom criteria, it is actually that different than someone with all?
  - doesn’t account for subthreshold symptoms (its either in or out)
• heterogeneity in disorders
• does not account for developmental across the lifespan.

Question 12

what is the dimensional model? [L1]

Answer 12

they emphasize the ways in which typical feelings, thoughts, behaviours gradually become more serious problems, which then may intensify and become clinically diagnosable disorders. there are no sharp distinctions between adjustment and maladjustment. also referred to as continuous or quantitative

Question 13

what are some models of child development? [L1]

Answer 13

• physiological model
• psychodynamic model
• behavioural model
• cognitive model
• humanistic model
• family model
• sociocultural model.