Psychiatric Disorders of Childhood & Adolescence - Meyer Flashcards
There are many classifications of mental illness. Try to categorize 6-7 of them.
(Hint: Mood disorders is #1)
Mood disorders (eg Major Depressive Disorder)
Psychotic disorders (eg Schizophrenia)
Anxiety disorders
Adjustment disorders
Substance use disorders
Personality disorders
Disorders secondary to other neurological or medical illness
How do most psych disorders of childhood arise?
How can they vary?
A strain on the child’s ability to cope with his or her development.
The level of strain experienced, as well as individual variation in the child’s flexibility and biologic variation.
How do child psychopathologies prevent differently from those of adults?
Psychopathologies in children fluctuate, and different disorders may present in different ages.
Additionally, children will not seek help for psych disorders.
What are some generic signs of stress?
Changes in the patterns of eating, sleeping and general activity. Possible regression to a more childlike state.
Try to recall some specific manifestations of stress in the following age cohorts:
Infant
Toddler
Preschool
School age
Adolescence
Infant: Stranger anxiety
Toddler: Tantrums, elimination, stuttering
Preschool: “Intrusiveness, masturbation”
School age: Behavioral & learning problems
Adolescence: Identity crisis, sexual disorder, substance abuse, delinquency
What defines mental retardation, and who does it affected?
What are some possible causes?
Significant sub-average intelligence (probably IQ < 70), hitting 3% of school-age children (usually boys).
Lack of stimulation, malnutrition, toxin exposure, chromosomal/metabolic abnormalities, traumatic pregnancy, infections, and many others…
Name two pervasive development disorders.
How are they treated?
Autism and Asperger’s disorder.
No curative medical treatments; special programs and support.
Contrast and distinguish between Autism and Asberger’s Disorder.
Autism features stunted social & language development, avoidal of interaction, and restricted/stereotyped behavioral patterns (may see “Savant behaviors”)
Asberger’s disorder does not feature the language deficit, and is generally milder.
What are learning disorders?
Who do they affect?
How are they treated?
A deficit in learning in one or more specific areas of study (eg Math, writing, reading, coordination).
Affects 10% of children, mostly boys.
Remediation.
What are unclassified speech disfluencies?
Who do they affect?
How are they treated?
Impairments of speech including (but not limited to) stuttering.
3-4 year olds
99% require no intervention (self-resolve), while the other 1% persists and requires speech therapy.
What is oppositional defiant disorder characterized by?
Who does it affect?
At least 6 months of: Bad temperament, argumentation, being resentful, vindictive, and generally a little shit.
Children and adolescents, generally boys.
What is a proposed cause of oppositional defiant disorder?
How is it treated?
Environmental cause–parent’s being too over-assertive!
Parent training (lol), psychotherapy, social training and CBT.
Describe the classic ADD patient.
How common is it?
A young child who is fidgety, easily distracted, and forgetful. He or she may have difficulties at school or at home because of this behavior.
About 5% of children have ADD! Many persist into adulthood.
What can cause ADD?
How is it treated?
Not clear, though heretidary linkages have been established.
Various CNS stimulants, psychotherapies (behavioral, parent management), special education.
What is conduct disorder characterized by?
Who does it affect, and why?
Lying, stealing, truancy, fighting, property destruction; general delinquency.
Tends to affect older children (usually boys), stemming from backgrounds of family trouble, low self-esteem, depression, substance abuse, etc.