Child Disorders

Question 1

DSM-5 ADHD criteria

Answer 1

1. Inattention
   - fails to give close attention to details
   - has difficulty sustaining attention
   - does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
   - does not follow through on instructions
   - has difficulty organising tasks and activities
   - easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
2. Hyperactivity & Impulsivity
   - often figets
   - runs around in situations not appropriate
   - unable to play
   - often talks excessively
   - often has difficulty waiting their turn

A. Several symptoms present prior to age 12 years.

B. Several symptoms present in two or more settings

Question 2

What type of disorder is ADHD?

Answer 2

Externalising disorder, but also shows comorbidity with neural developmental disorders.

So is currently conceptualised as a ‘neurodevelopmental disorder’

Question 3

Gender rates for ADHD

Answer 3

More common in males than females (2:1)

Question 4

ADHD comorbidities

Answer 4

66% of children with ADHD present with at least one comorbid Axis 1 disorder (all psychological diagnostic categories)

Question 5

What is developmental trajectory of ADHD?

Answer 5

Hyperactivity is noticed first, and then inattention

Question 6

Non-inherited possible causes of ADHD?

Answer 6

• Teratogens and toxins (exposure during critical periods in pregnancy)
• Dietary factors (synthetic food colours)
• In younger kids, high levels of involvement by the parent results in lower levels of ADHD in older years

Question 7

Genetic loading of ADHD?

Answer 7

Quite high (0.8)

Question 8

Gene-environment correlation of ADHD (evocative and passive)

Answer 8

Evocative gene-environment correlation = child characteristics that are genetically based…evoke negative responses from parents

Passive gene-environment correlation = the same genes that underlie ADHD in the child…underlie parenting problems in their parents.

Question 9

What is the dual pathway model of ADHD?

Answer 9

1. Deficits in inhibitory-based executive processes

2. Motivational dysfunction involving disruptive signalling of delayed reward

Question 10

The Delay Aversion Hypothesis

Answer 10

Predicts that ADHD children’s preference for immediate small over large delayed rewards will be reduced when stimulated, which makes time appear to pass more quickly, is added to the delay interval.

Attempts to avoid delay by attending to the most interesting/absorbing aspects of the environment.

Question 11

Current best treatments for ADHD?

Answer 11

Psychological interventions (parent training; classroom programs) improve functioning

However, only stimulant medication appears to act on the core features of the disorder

Question 12

DSM-5 OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER criteria

Answer 12

A. A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behaviour lasting at least 6 months, four or more of following:

• often loses temper
• often argues with adults
• often actively defies/refuses to comply with adults requests/rules
• often deliberately annoys people
• often blames others for mistakes
• is often touchy of easily annoyed by others
• is often angry and resentful
• is often spiteful or vindictive

Question 13

Patterson’s Coercion Theory in relation to ODD

Answer 13

He believed that the essence of learning show these aggressive behaviours reside in the moment to moment interactions you had with your parents as a child.

You learnt how to get what you wanted through aggressive/coercive means.

Question 14

What does Patterson’s model show about reinforcement in ODD

Answer 14

The moment that one person stops the battle (parent or child) they are simultaneously reinforced.

Parents = negatively reinforced
Child = positively reinforced

Question 15

Deviancy groups ODD

Answer 15

Where those that like to cause problems start to group together at school

Question 16

DSM-5 CONDUCT DISORDER criteria

Answer 16

A. A repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviour in which the basic rights of others or rules are violated, by 3 or more of:

• aggression to people and animals
• destruction of property
• deceitfulness or theft
• serious violations of rules

Question 17

CONDUCT DISORDER onset

Answer 17

Childhood-onset type = onset of at least one criterion characteristic of CD prior to 10 years of age.

Adolescent-onset type = absence of any criteria characteristic of CD prior to age 10 years (this is more common).

Question 18

Define Low CU Traits (hot)

Answer 18

Highly reactive to emotional cues.

Have hostile attributional biases - they think the world is against them.

They feel a lot of self-negative energy and they turn that on other kids, aggressively.

Question 19

Define High CU Traits (cold)

Answer 19

Tend to be more severe and chronic.

Show both reactive and proactive aggression.

Show punishment insensitivity (don’t pay attention to punishment; just focus on reward cues).

Question 20

Between high and low CU traits, which are heritable and which are environmental?

Answer 20

Low CU traits have low heritability, most comes from the environment

High CU traits show much greater heritability

Question 21

Best psychological treatment for ODD

Answer 21

Behavioural Parent Training

Question 22

Minuchin: Hierarchical structure of a healthy family

Answer 22

Unless the parents work together it can be very difficult to get these treatments to work.