Developmental and Neurocognitive Disorders Cara C. Wilson, Ph.D. Albuquerque Police Department Behavioral Sciences Division (505) 764-1600

Developmental Disabilities (DD) Diverse group of severe chronic conditions (life-long) Due to mental and/or physical impairments Begin anytime prior to age 22

Some types of DD Intellectual disability (mental retardation) Autism Spectrum Disorders Cerebral palsy Genetic and chromosomal disorders Fragile X Down Syndrome Fetal alcohol disorders/effects

Intellectual Disability (MR) Limits ability to learn (IQ below 70) Limits ability to function in daily life Causes—happen before age 18 Injury, disease, brain problem, genetic

Who is Affected? 2.5 – 3% of general population 2 – 10% of prison population More likely to be caught More likely to confess and be convicted Less likely to be paroled

Common Traits Often picked on, victimized, humiliated Desire for approval and acceptance—may do what others tell them Poor impulse control, difficulty with long-term thinking, difficulty handling stress Difficulty predicting consequences or resisting strong emotional responses

Autism Spectrum Disorder Brain Disorder that impairs: Socialization Communication Degree of impairment is quite variable Typically— Socially awkward Have difficulty communicating Trouble recognizing safety hazards Don’t recognize social cues and customs

Prevalence of ASD 1 in 68 children 1 in 42 boys 1 in 189 girls

What Causes Autism? No one cause Combination of genetic risk and environmental factors that affect early brain development Older parents Extreme prematurity and very low birth weight

What to Look for Little or no eye contact, lack of facial expression, no interest in peers Stimming—hand-flapping, spinning, rocking Fixation on a specific object or subject (GUNS) Fixation on shiny objects (BADGE) May not respond to commands or acknowledge you Many don’t like to be touched

Encounters with Law Enforcement 7x more likely than other individuals Police usually called due to unusual behavior May frighten or disturb others May become frightened or over-stimulated and become challenging or offensive May wander off and become lost

Interaction Guidelines Use their name if you know it Be direct and to the point Use simple language; speak slowly and clearly Give them time to understand Repeat simple questions, allow a few seconds for response, offer praise Use non-threatening body language Be alert for the unexpected outburst Be safe, do proper threat assessment

Dementia Umbrella term for a group of cognitive disorders Progressive decline due to brain damage or disease Alzheimer’s Disease most common dementia

Cognitive Difficulties Dementia particularly affects Memory, attention, language, thinking, reasoning, and perception of the world Especially in later stages, disorientation to Time (day, month, year) Place Circumstance (e.g., at hospital, don’t know why) Person (forget identity of others, self)

Common traits As population ages, so does # of cases Cause—destruction of brain cells Affects: Memory for day-to-day events What has happened to them Forget to do things, misplace items, question repetitively GET LOST (Silver Alert)

May be Confused with Delirium Delirium =“confusion out of the blue” Some causes of delirium poisons, fever, pain, infection, lack of sleep, food, water, drug and alcohol withdrawal (DTs) Most common acute disorder of hospitalized adults (10-20%; 30-40% elderly; 80% ICU)

Dementia vs Delirium: Progressive, slow onset (months to years) Generally not immediately life threatening No known cure Focus is on safety, maintaining quality of life Cognitive, attention, perceptual disturbance Emotional Disturbance Rapid Onset (hours to days) May be Life threatening Curable, reversible Can occur in the presence of dementia Often accompanied by hallucinations Cognitive, attention, perceptual disturbance Emotional Disturbance

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Injury to the brain caused by an external physical force Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe Headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision, tired eyes, ringing in ears, bad taste in mouth, fatigue, lethargy, change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, trouble with memory, concentration, attention or thinking

Types of Injuries Closed head injury Open head injury Blast injury No obvious external signs crashes, falls, child abuse, domestic violence Open head injury Gunshot wound Penetrating object Blast injury Significant number of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan Long-term consequences

TBI and Violent Behavior Strong relationship between TBI and violent criminal behavior Lack of ability to control thoughts, emotions, and conduct, depending on location and severity of brain damage

Contact Tips for Law Enforcement Respond supportively if person appears upset Speak in a calm, matter of fact voice Reassure that everything is ok and they are safe Explain your procedures prior to action Remind of current location and situation

Keys for Law Enforcement Respect the person—more likely to be victims than perpetrators Emphasize the person not the disability Be aware of symptoms and potential limitations the individual may have Understand as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions Get help when you don’t know STAY SAFE! Louisiana Officer: Meets buy Autistic/disabled..befriended him always wanted to be a police officer but felt his diability would keep him from it…