Week 3 - Externalising disorders kids

Question 1

How do we assess for child externalising disorders?

Answer 1

• multi-model- multi-informant:
• QUESTIONNAIRES (CHILD, TEACHER, PARENT)
• CLINICAL INTERVIEW ( CHILD, PARENT, TEACHER)
• BEHAVIOURAL OBSERVATION

Question 2

What does a multi-modal multi-method clinical interview involve?

Answer 2

• interviews with child and parents (phone calls with teachers if needed)
• in addition to standard clinical assessment, presenting problems include: hx of problem, triggers, when is it better/worse
• assessment of current discipline practices (what is currently happening; is it consistent; why isn’t working; what have you tried in the past; are there any differences in the way that mum ad dad discipline? how bad does it get?
• PARENTING COGNITIONS (do you have any theories as to why your child behaves this way? do you get frustrated? how do you manage your frustration; how does the parent feel about the child?)

Question 3

What is Patterson’s Coercive cycle examining?

Answer 3

• “Escalation traps” that are common in externalising disorders
• parent and child keep escalating until one gives in
• if the parent gives in –> child learns that parent will eventually give up (parent and child rewarded - parent gets quiet, child doesn’t have to comply)
• CHILD GIVES IN–> parent learns that escalating the punishment works - but the child learn that parent isn’t serious until they are really mad

Question 4

What does a functional analysis look at?

Answer 4

• ANTECEDENTS (what happened before the problem)
• BEHAVIOURS (what happened as a result)
• CONSEQUENCES (what happened as a consequence)