1. Section 3: Dissociative Disorders

2. Dissociative Disorders Dissociation – separation of certain personality components / mental processes from conscious thought – Somewhat common – Becomes a disorder when used to avoid stressful events or feelings – Lose memory of an event, forget identity

3. Amnesia Sudden loss of memory, usually following traumatic event Can’t remember anything surrounding event May even forget identity Memory returns as suddenly as it was lost Wartime and natural disasters huge causes

4. Fugue Forgetting personal information and past events, but also relocating and taking on new identity Usually follows traumatic event May not appear to be ill at all Eventually ends, can’t remember anything

5. (multiple personality disorder) Two or more personalities that may or may not be aware of one another Different voice, facial expressions, handedness, age, gender, allergies, etc. Usually severely abused as kid Suffered severe physical sexual and or psychological abuse Dissociative Identity Disorder

6. Depersonalization Disorder Feelings of detachment from one’s mental processes or body Usually preceded by stressful event Third most common complaint among psychiatric patients

7. Explaining Dissociative Disorders Psychoanalytic theory – dissociate in order to repress unacceptable urges Learning theorists – learned not to think about disturbing events in order to avoid feelings of guilt, shame, or pain

8. Section 4: Common Disorders in Children

9. Overview of ADHD Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder Trouble focusing on task at hand May be easily distracted Causes problems at school (learning and social) Most common reason kids are referred to mental health professional

10. Diagnosing ADHD Usually young boys Most common in USA Ritalin (actually a stimulant) is most helpful drug Pregnant mothers that smoke 3x more likely to have ADHD child Side effects can be a problem If not dealt with – problems in school, relationships, delinquent behavior, substance abuse, etc.

11. Autism Early signs – Aloof and unresponsive babies – Attach to inanimate objects instead of family – Inappropriate speech – Unexplained tantrums – Difficult to feed – Don’t like being held or cuddled – Very little sensitivity to pain – Rarely maintain eye contact

12. Symptoms Failure to develop normal communication patterns, social interactions, emotional responses Strong and negative reaction to change Few able to speak normally, many practice echolalia (repeating what has just been said) May abuse themselves or repeat single hand motion for hours

13. Famous people Rumored to have Autism Emily Dickenson Mozart Albert Einstein Thomas Jefferson Jane Austen Vincent Van Gogh Alexander graham bell Bach Beethoven Leonardo Da Vinci Thomas Edison Isaac Newton Michelangelo Mark Twain

14. Who it affects 1 in 88 kids born today Usually boys Kids regardless of parental styling (doesn’t mean autistic kids have bad parents) Neurological problem – make up of brain is different Possible link between autism and schizophrenia

15. Causes of Autism Mothers that – Don’t take pre-natal vitamins – Are obese – Are older when giving birth Other possible causes: – Vaccines – Food allergies – Immune system deficiencies – Heredity – Premature birth – Environmental factors (pollutants, etc.)

16. Autistic Savant Extraordinary skill of some kind Complicated numerical operations, musical talents, artistic ability, memory capability A medical mystery

17. Asperger's High functioning Autism Difficulty with social situations & limited, repetitive behaviors 1 in 500 kids Literal thinking (difficulty noticing sarcasm) Trouble reading body language and emotions 3 to 4x more likely in boys Many are highly intelligent Behavior therapy can help, drugs to help anxiety