Classification and Diagnosis of Childhood Disorders

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, biological factors, and treatments for ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder based on the developmental psychopathology lecture notes.

Developmental psychopathology

The study of disorders of childhood within the context of normal child development, focusing on how manifestations vary by age group.

Inattention (ADHD Criterion)

$6$ or more symptoms for children up to age $16$, or $5$ or more for those age $17$ and older, present for at least $6$ months at an inappropriate developmental level.

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity (ADHD Criterion)

$6$ or more symptoms for children up to age $16$, or $5$ or more for those age $17$ and older, present for at least $6$ months to a disruptive extent.

ADHD Diagnostic Thresholds

Symptoms must be severe and persistent, with several symptoms present before age $12$ and manifesting in multiple settings (not just school).

Predominantly Inattentive Presentation

A form of ADHD characterized primarily by distractibility and difficulty concentrating.

ADHD Prevalence

Estimated to be $3-7\%$, appearing more commonly in boys than in girls.

ADHD Heritability

Estimates suggest genetic factors are as high as $70$ to $80\%$, with two specific dopamine genes implicated.

Ritalin and Adderall

The most common stimulant medications for ADHD which work by increasing dopamine to improve attention and social functioning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A DSM-5 category that replaced Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), including what was formerly known as Autistic Disorder and Asperger Syndrome.

Social-emotional reciprocity

One of the social communication deficit areas required for an ASD diagnosis under the DSM-5.

Stereotyped or repetitive movements

Ritualized patterns of behavior in ASD, such as lining up toys, flipping objects, or simple motor stereotypies.

Joint attention

A social attachment behavior often absent in infants with classic Autistic Disorder, involving shared focus on an object or event.

Echolalia

A communication impairment in autism where the person repeats things they hear.

Pronoun reversal

A language abnormality in autism where the individual says 'you' instead of 'me'.

Asperger Syndrome

Formerly a distinct disorder, now part of ASD; characterized by high-functioning status with unimpaired language and cognitive skills but significant social cue difficulties.

ASD Gender Ratio

The disorder is observed more commonly in boys than girls, with a ratio of $4:1$.

Neural Pruning

The nervous system process of trimming extra neurons and connections during the first $1-2$ years of life; failure of this process may lead to larger brain sizes in autistic individuals.

ASD Concordance Rates

Studies show rates of $60$ to $91\%$ for identical twins compared to $0-21\%$ for fraternal twins, indicating a strong genetic influence.