Chapter 16 - Disorders Common Among Children and Adolescents

What is one of the main fears among children and adolescents?

the fear of being bullied

Are boys or girls more likely to be diagnosed wutrg a mental illness?

boys

What are two of the childhood anxiety disorders?

separation anxiety disorder

• excessive anxiety, even panic, when ever the person is separated from home, a parent, or another attachment figure

selective mutism

• a disorder marked by a lack of speaking in certain social situations when speech is expected, despite an ability to speak in other situations

What are some treatments for childhood anxiety disorders?

• cognitive-behavioral therapy

• family therapy

• group therapy

• play therapy and child-centered therapy

How is childhood depression characterized?

• headaches

• stomach apin

• irritability

• disinterest in toys and games

How is childhood depression treated?

• cognitive-behavioral therapy

• interpersonal psychotherapy

• antidepressant drugs

How was bipolar disorder seen as, and how is it classified in children?

it was seen as an adult mood disorder

• disruptive mood dysregulation disorder was added to the DSM-5 to attempt to fix inaccurate diagnoses of bipolar disorder in children

Oppositional defiant disorder

a disorder in which children are repeatedly argumentative and defiant, angry, irritable, and in some cases, vindictive

Conduct disorder

a more intense disorder in which children repeatedly violate the basic rights of others and display significant aggression

How does relational aggression relate to conduct disorder?

an adolescent tries to exclude another adolescent by starting rumors and disrupting social status

What are genetic and biological factors for causes of conduct disorder?

MAOA gene variation

What are environmental factors for causes of conduct disorder?

• drug abuse

• poverty

• trauma

• exposure to violence

At what age is treatment most effective for conduct disorder?

under 13

What are treatments for conduct disorder?

• parenting interventions

• child-focused treatments

• residential treatments

• prevention

• family-based treatment

What are elimination disorders?

children with elimination disorders repeatedly urinate or pass feces in their clothes, in bed, or on the floor

• enuresis

• encopresis

Enuresis

a childhood disorder marked by repeated bed-wetting or wetting of one’s clothes

Encopresis

a childhood disorder characterized by repeated defecating in inappropriate places such as one’s clothing

What is the behavioral theory for enuresis?

not adequate potty training

What are the two factors that need to be present for elimination disorders?

• at least five years old

• involuntary

What are the three disorders that cannot be diagnosed after 18?

• oppositional defiant disorder

• conduct disorder

• neurodevelopmental disorders

What are neurodevelopmental disorders and examples?

a group of disabilities in the functioning of the brain that emerge at birth or during very early childhood and affect the individual’s behavior, memory, concentration, and ability to learn

• ex. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

a disorder marked by the inability to focus attention, or by overactive and impulsive behavior, or both

• difficult to assess and is generally over diagnosed

What are the biological causes for ADHD?

type 1 and type 2 attention processes

• type 1: unconscious on unexpected things

• type 2: conscious control of mental activities

What are treatments for ADHD?

• drug therapy —> methylphenidate (same drug class as meth; stimulant)

• cognitive-behavioral therapy

• treatment combinations

What are some multicultural factors associated with ADHD?

African American and Hispanic American children with significant attention and activity problems are less likely than white American children to

• be assessed for ADHD

• receive an ADHD diagnosis

• undergo treatment for ADHD

Autism spectrum disorder

a developmental disorder marked by

• extreme unresponsiveness to others

• severe communication deficits

• highly repetitive and rigid behaviors, interests, and activities

What are the sociocultural causes offered for autism spectrum disorder?

parents with bad parenting

What are the psychological causes offered for autism spectrum disorder?

theory of mind

• the inability to take another person’s point of view

joint attention

• not focusing on something someone else is focusing on

What are the biological causes offered for autism spectrum disorder?

• genes

• prenatal differences or birth complications

• severe brain abnormalities

What are treatments for autism spectrum disorder?

focuses on helping people adapt to their environment

• cognitive-behavioral therapy

• communication training —> augmentative communication systems

• parenting interventions

• community integration

Intellectual disability

a disorder marked by intellectual function and adaptive behavior that are well below average

• symptoms must appear before the age of 18

• low IQ score and dysfunction in daily life

What do IQ tests not have that clinicians want to test for before diagnosing someone with intellectual disability?

assessment and observation of adaptive functioning

What is the most consistent sign of intellectual disability?

the person learns very slowly

What are the four levels of intellectual disability?

1. mild ID (50-70)

2. moderate ID (35-49)

3. severe ID (20-34)

4. profound ID (below 20)

What are the biological causes of moderate, severe, and profound ID?

• chromosomal causes —> Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome

• metabolic causes

• prenatal and birth-related causes —> fetal alcohol syndrome

• childhood diseases and injuries

What is the goal of interventions for people with intellectual disability?

the quality of life attained by people with intellectual disability depends largely on sociocultural factors

• state schools

• normalization

• special education

• mainstreaming (inclusion)

• therapy

• personal, social, and occupational growth