1. Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology Ronald Comer
Chapter 14
Disorders of childhood and adolescence
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2. Maladaptive Behavior in Different Life Periods
Developmental psychopathology
Study of origins and course of individual maladaptation in context of normal growth processes
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3. Varying Clinical Pictures
Some childhood disorders short-lived and nonspecific
Others severely affect future development
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4. Varying Clinical Pictures
Child inpatient psychiatric patients
More likely than peers to die early in life
More likely to die due to unnatural causes
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5. Special Psychological Vulnerabilities of Young Children
They do not have as complex and realistic view of themselves and their world as they will have later
They have less self-understanding
They have not yet developed stable sense of identity
They have not yet developed a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what resources they might have to deal with problems
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6. The Classification of Childhood and Adolescent Disorders
No categories for children’s disorders
DSM-I included only two childhood disorders
Early diagnostic systems
More attention paid to developmental factors in creating and using diagnoses for children
Recent systems
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7. Separation anxiety disorder
Excessive anxiety about separation from major attachment figures, such as their mother, and from familiar home surroundings.
4% of school children
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8. Anxiety Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
Characteristics
Unrealistic fears
Oversensitivity
Self-consciousness
Nightmares
Chronic anxiety
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9. Anxiety Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
Causes and treatments
Pattern of early family relationships
Psychopharmacological treatments and behavior therapy
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10. Major Depressive Disorder
headaches, stomach pain, irritability, and a disinterest in toys and games
Clinical depression is much more common among teenagers than among young children
By age 16 – girls 2x more depressed than boys
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

11. Varying Clinical Pictures
True or false?
Suicidal thoughts are uncommon in children.
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12. Childhood Depression
Causal factors
Biological and learning factors
Exposure to trauma
Parental negative emotion/behavior
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13. Extreme mood swings and aggressive, irritable behavior
Bipolar disorder
Extreme mood swings and aggressive, irritable behavior
Increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents
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14. Childhood Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Treatment
Antidepressant medications
Supportive emotional environment
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
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15. Bipolar Disorder and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
childhood bipolar label has been overapplied
DSM-5 included disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
children with severe patterns of rage
Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7e

16. Oppositional defiant disorder
Recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least six months
Conduct disorder
Persistent, repetitive violation of rules and disregard for rights of others for at least 1 year
Aggression to people and animals
Destruction of property
Theft
Serious violations of rules
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17. Three Subtypes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Angry/Irritable Mood
Argumentative/Defiant Behavior
Vindictiveness
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18. Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder
Possible causes
Biological factors
Personal pathology
Family patterns
Peer relationships
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19. Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder
Effective treatments = cohesive family model and behavioral techniques
Ineffective treatment = Punitive treatments
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20. 3 Types of (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Predominately inattentive
Predominately hyperactive/impulsive
Combined
Associated with numerous impairments
Behavioral
Cognitive
Social and academic problems

21. The Causes of ADHD: Biological Contributions
Genetic contributions
ADHD seems to run in families
DAT1 - gene has been implicated

22. Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder
Treatment methods
Medications
Behavior therapy
Family therapy
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23. Biological Treatment of ADHD
Goal of biological treatments
To reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and to improve attention
Stimulant medications
Reduce core symptoms in 70% of cases
Examples include Ritalin, Pemoline, Focalin, Cylert, Vyvanse, Adderall, Strattera

24. Behavioral Treatment of ADHD
Reinforcement programs
To increase appropriate behaviors
Decrease inappropriate behaviors
May also involve parent training

25. Behavior Modification

26. Elimination Disorders
Enuresis
Functional enuresis
Bedwetting that is not organically caused
Age ≥ 5
Gender
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27. Sleepwalking, and Tics Parasomnias Sleepwalking Incidence level Tics
Persistent, intermittent muscle twitches or spasms, usually limited to a localized muscle group
Tourette’s disorder
Extreme tic disorder involving multiple motor and vocal patterns
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28. Autism Spectrum Disorder
Wide range of problematic behaviors
1) Social deficit
2) Communication deficits
3) rigid and repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities
Self-stimulation
Impaired intellectual ability
Preoccupation with maintaining sameness
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29. Autism Spectrum Disorder
Cause
Precise causes unknown
Fundamental disturbance of central nervous system likely involved
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30. Autism Spectrum Disorder
Treatment
Behavior of autistic children not normalized through treatment
behavior modification techniques reduce some symptoms
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31. Intellectual Disability
Characterized by deficits in general mental abilities, such as reasoning, problem solving, planning, abstract thinking, judgment, academic learning, and learning from experience.
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32. DSM-V Levels of Intellectual disability (ID)
Mild ID
IQ score between 55 and 70
Moderate ID
IQ range of 40 to 54
Severe ID
IQs ranging from 25 to 39
Profound ID
IQ scores below 25

33. Causal Factors in Intellectual Disability
Genetic-chromosomal factors
Infections and toxic agents
Trauma
Ionizing radiation
Malnutrition and other biological factors
Some biological factors:
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34. Organic Retardation Syndromes
Intellectual disability stemming primarily from biological causes
Down Syndrome
Phenylketonuria
Cranial anomalies
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35. Hydrocephalus
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36. Trisomy 21

38. Treatments, Outcomes, and Prevention
Treatment methods
Institutionalization
Education and inclusion programming
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39. Academic Characteristics
Reading
(dyslexia)
Deficits in:
Written language
(dysgraphia)
Mathematics
(dyscalculia)

40. Dyslexia

41. Learning Disorders
Diagnosis of learning disorders
Clear impairment in school performance or daily living activities
Impairment not due to intellectual disability or autism
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42. Causal Factors in Learning Disorders
Causes
Possibly subtle central nervous system impairments
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