Problems in Early Development: Child Psychopathology Michael Hoerger

Background Sleeper effect Sleeper effect Washout effect Washout effect What matters most? What matters most? 1. Warm 2. Not too strict 3. Empty threats

Anxiety Problems: fear, worries, tears Problems: fear, worries, tears Temperament: inhibition Temperament: inhibition Parental factors: modeling anxiety, granting less autonomy, more critical Parental factors: modeling anxiety, granting less autonomy, more critical Risk factor Risk factor Video clip Video clip Video clip Video clip

Depression Problems: sad, irritable, low self-esteem Problems: sad, irritable, low self-esteem Withdrawal from peers Withdrawal from peers Physical complaints Physical complaints Adolescent concerns of body image Adolescent concerns of body image Suicide rates Suicide rates Matt Stone interview Matt Stone interview Matt Stone interview Matt Stone interview

ADHD/Behavior Problems Problems: inattentive, hyper, impulsive, disruptive, aggressive Problems: inattentive, hyper, impulsive, disruptive, aggressive Make up most of child cases seen Make up most of child cases seen Boys, age 3+ Boys, age 3+ Source variability Source variability Video interview Video interview

Sleep Problems: resist going to bed, nightmares, sleep terrors, sleep walking Problems: resist going to bed, nightmares, sleep terrors, sleep walking Stable difficulties falling asleep: 6 months  10 years Stable difficulties falling asleep: 6 months  10 years Nightmares among 50%, fades Nightmares among 50%, fades Sleepwalking among 5%, fades Sleepwalking among 5%, fades

Habit Disorders Problems: frequent, repetitive behaviors Problems: frequent, repetitive behaviors Extreme Example: Trichotillomania Extreme Example: Trichotillomania Mild Example: Thumb sucking Mild Example: Thumb sucking Don’t treat before age 4 Don’t treat before age 4 Aversive-tasting solution Aversive-tasting solution Rewards Rewards

Pain Half of children experience significant pain during medical treatments, especially dental Half of children experience significant pain during medical treatments, especially dental Younger, girls Younger, girls Distract the kids! Distract the kids! Think happy thoughts Think happy thoughts Often undertreated Often undertreated

Encopresis/Enuresis Encopresis: “involuntary loss of stool in inappropriate places” Encopresis: “involuntary loss of stool in inappropriate places” Changes in diet, toilet training Changes in diet, toilet training Nocturnal Enuresis: bed wetting Nocturnal Enuresis: bed wetting Age 3: 40% Age 3: 40% Age 10: 10% Age 10: 10% Age 15: 3% Age 15: 3% “Bell and pad” “Bell and pad”

Child Therapy Operant conditioning Operant conditioning Attention + rewards for positive behavior Attention + rewards for positive behavior Ignore / punish negative behavior Ignore / punish negative behavior “House rules” “House rules” Modeling Modeling Model desired behavior + speech Model desired behavior + speech Consistency Consistency Education Education

Child Psychiatry Adult studies Adult studies 700% increase in Ritalin use 700% increase in Ritalin use Teachers/parents refuse responsibility Teachers/parents refuse responsibility Effective? Effective? Long-term physical side effects are unknown Long-term physical side effects are unknown Psychological side effects? Psychological side effects? Psychological side effects? Psychological side effects?

Michael Hoerger Michael Hoerger To cite this lecture: Hoerger, M. (2007, February 14). Child Psychopathology. Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University. Hoerger, M. (2007, February 14). Child Psychopathology. Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University.