Child Psychopathology Overview of theories and causes Biological causes Case of Lee Reading for today: Chapter 2

Assumptions in Theories of Childhood Psychopathology Child behavior is multiply determined (multidimensional, no one theory is enough) The child and environment are interdependent and interact dynamically –transactional models of development, e,g, abuse Abnormal behavior involves continuities and discontinuities –quantitative changes, such as reading disorder –qualitative changes, such as eating disorder

Lawful Discontinuity of Attachment Waters et al., 2000 Secure Infants Secure adults Insecure adults Family disruption Infancy Age 22

Dimensions of development John gets in fights. How can we explain this behavior at different levels: –Biological –Cognitive –Emotional –Behavioral –Evolutionary –Family systems

Normal/ Abnormal Development What are developmental achievements and common problems/ diagnostic labels for the following ages: –0-2 –2-6 –6-11 –12-20 Achenbach (1982) overviews normal achievements, problems, and common diagnostic categories of childhood problems

Biological foundations of child psychopathology

Genetic contributions Can you name a trait or behavioral characteristic that is purely genetic? Even hair color, cancer, and reading have environmental influence GXE interactions In developmental psychology, few genetic causes have been isolated except trisomy 21 Polygenic inheritance dominates approaches from behavioral genetics

Methods of the geneticist

Neurotransmitters Changes in neurotransmitters make children more or less likely to behave certain ways serotonin affects information processing and motor coordination, motivation benzodiazepine-GABA system reduces arousal and moderates emotions norepinephrine involved in stress/alarm dopamine acts as a switch to affect other brain functions

Case Review: Lee How could you explain Lee’s behavior at different levels of explanation? –Behavioral –Cognitive –Family –Emotional What are possible diagnoses for Lee? What might happen in this case with respect to treatment. Why? What levels of explanation are important? Form groups of three, we will discuss responses as a class