psychopathology chapter 10 -

neurodevelopmental disorders

 involve early-onset difficulties in brain development, leading to long-lasting problems in learning, attention, communication, behavior, or motor functioning 

neurocognitive disorders

not associated with early developmental onse

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning or development 

ADHD specifiers

• 1. Combined presentation - 6+ inattention symptoms and 6+ hyperactivity-impulsivity 

• 2. Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation - 6+ hyperactive, 

3. Predominantly inattention - 6+ inattention

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

 childhood onset neurodevelopmental disorder involving social communication deficits and restricted/ repetitive behaviors.

Intellectual developmental disorder (intellectual disability)

 childhood onset deficits in intellectual ability and adaptive functioning 

ID specifiers

• 4 severity levels of ID - less focus on IQ, more on functioning 

  • 1. Mild - just not the brightest 

  • 2. Moderate - can hold an elementary school job 

  • 3. Severe - requires support for all aspects of living 

  • 4. Profound - like awful

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

alcohol is a teratogen that can pass through the placental barrier, outcomes include stillbirth, miscarriag, premature birth, and low birth weight.

specific learning disorder

a neurodevelopmental disorder in which a person has persistent difficulties learning and using specific academic skills, despite normal intelligence and adequate instruction.

echolalia

 repetition of words of phrases spoken by someone else, immediately after hearing them or later 

tics

 sudden, rapid, repetitive movements or sounds that a person feels an urge to do, often described as “hard to resist.”

aphasia

deterioration of language 

palilalia

repeating sounds or words over and over 

apraxia

impairment of the ability to execute common actions 

agnosia

failure to recognize objects or people 

executive functions

 brain functions that involve the ability to plan, initiate, monitor, and stop complex behaviors 

communication disorders

 childhood onset disorders marked by problem with speech, language or social communications

language disorder

difficulties with spoken language, written language and other language modalities 

speech sound disorder

 a childhood onset disorder marked by difficulty producing speech sounds accurately 

childhood-onset fluency disorder

stuttering

social communication disorder

childhood onset impairment in the social use of language and communication

motor disorders

childhood-onset disorders involving impaired or abnormal motor functioning 

tourettes disorder

both multiple motor and or more vocal tics that have been present at some time during the illness, although not necessarily concurrently 

persistent motor or vocal tic disorder (PMVTD)

single motor or vocal tics, persistently for at least one year, onset before age 18 

stereotypic movement disorder

 repetitive, seemingly driven, and apparently purposeless motor behavior, causing clinically significant distress or functional impairment

developmental coordination disorder

motor performance that is substantially below expected levels, given the person's chronological age and previous opportunities for skill acquisition 

major neurocognitive disorder/dementia

 cannot remember the most fundamental facts of their lives, express themselves through language, or carry out basic everyday tasks 

mild neurocognitive disorder

modest cognitive decline from a previous level of performance, but no significant impairment to functioning

Alzheimer’s disease

a cause of NCD (⅔ of NCD patients)

• Chronic and incurable (AD) - usually live 8-10 years post diagnosis 

  • Brain abnormalities in AD

    • neurofibrillary tangles - made of a protein called tau, impede nutrients and contribute to dysfunction and eventually death 

    • Plaques - abnormal extracellular deposits of beta amyloid protein that builds up between neurons and disrupts cell communication 

    • Beta-amyloid - small protein fragments, forms plaques 

vascular neurocognitive disorder

caused by problems with blood flow to the brain, leading to decline in one or more cognitive domains. Most prominent symptoms are significant declines in processing speed, paying attention, and other executive functions 

cerebrovascular disease

 when the blood supply to areas of the brain is blocked, causing tissue damage in the brain. 

stroke

sudden damage to an area of the brain due to the blockage of blood flow or to hemorrhaging 

traumatic brain injury

often leads to changes in cognitive abilities, emotional and personal functioning, sometimes symptoms are temporary, sometimes permanent. 

delirium

a sudden, serious change in mental status involving confusion, reduced awareness, and difficulty thinking clearly. It’s considered a medical emergency because it usually signals an underlying physical problem.

what do neurodevelopmental disorders have in common?

Early + developmental deficits + chronic + broad functional impact = neurodevelopmental disorders.

what do neurocognitive disorders have in common?

Acquired decline in cognition + daily impairment + brain dysfunction = neurocognitive disorders.

adhd most common presentation

👶 Most common in children

• Combined Presentation → most common overall in kids

  • They show both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity

• Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation → more common in younger children

  • Running, climbing, interrupting, can’t sit still

👉 Why? Kids naturally have higher activity levels, so hyperactive symptoms are more obvious and disruptive early on.

🧑 Most common in adults

• Predominantly Inattentive Presentation → most common in adults

  • Trouble focusing, disorganization, forgetfulness

• Hyperactivity often decreases with age

  • It may turn into internal restlessness instead of outward behavior

why are there increased adhd rates

Increased ADHD prevalence and diagnosis rates are primarily driven by enhanced awareness, improved diagnostic criteria (DSM-5), and better recognition in females and adults. Pandemic-related stressors, remote learning observations, and increased social media awareness have also accelerated diagnoses

two main criteria for autism diagnoses

persistent deficits in social communication/interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities

early signs of autism

• limited eye contact

• not smile and coo at caregivers

• initiate play

• joint attention

• delayed language development

• solitary play

What are scientifically supported causal theories? Treatments? of autism

developmental interventions designed to enhance skill development and improve quality of life, rather than curing the condition.

self-stimulatory behaviors

repetitive, stereotyped movements, sounds, or actions—like hand-flapping, rocking, or humming—that provide sensory input, comfort, and emotional regulation.

learning disorders

a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the brain's ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information, often causing difficulties in reading, writing, or math.

most common learning disorder

dyslexia

seizure disorders

A seizure disorder, often known as epilepsy, is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

communication disorders

conditions that impair the ability to receive, send, process, or comprehend verbal, nonverbal, or graphic messages

What kinds of tics can we see?

motor tics and vocal tics

What’s the difference between Tourette’s and Persistent motor or vocal tic disorder?

The main difference between Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Persistent Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder (PMVT) is the type of tics present, although both require symptoms to last over a year and start before age 18. Tourette’s requires both multiple motor and at least one vocal tic, whereas PMVT involves only motor tics or only vocal tics, but not both

major vs minor NCD

Mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD) involves modest cognitive decline, allowing individuals to maintain independence in daily tasks. Major NCD, often known as dementia, involves significant decline, impairing the ability to perform daily activities independently.

executive function

a set of mental skills managed by the brain's prefrontal cortex that act as an "air traffic control system," allowing individuals to set goals, plan, stay organized, manage emotions, and solve problems.

first symptoms of Alzheimers

persistent short-term memory loss (forgetting recent events or appointments), difficulty with familiar tasks, confusion with time or place, challenges with planning or problem-solving, and word-finding struggles

What might cause Alzheimer’s disease?

poor sleep, poor diet, little to no excercise, stress, smoking

protective factors for Alzheimers - SHIELD

S - Sleep,

H - Head

I - Injury Prevention,

E - Exercise,

L - Learning,

D - Diet

What did the “Nun study” show?

The Nun Study showed that early-life intelligence, education, emotional positivity, and lifestyle strongly influence the risk of Alzheimer’s and can help the brain resist its symptoms—even when disease is present.

What are the main treatments for NCDs?

h early detection, medication, and lifestyle modifications