behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the difference between behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders in DSM?
Neurodevelopmental disorders: ADHD, autism, intellectual disability, learning disorders.
Disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders: ODD, CD, antisocial personality disorder.
How does ICD-10 categorize behavioural disorders?
Behavioural disorders in childhood (e.g. CD, ODD)
Pervasive developmental disorders (e.g. autism)
Hyperkinetic disorders (e.g. ADHD)
What changes were made in ICD-11 regarding these disorders?
Autism and ADHD are under neurodevelopmental disorders
CD and ODD are under disruptive behaviour or dissocial disorders
Who coined the term neurodiversity and what does it mean?
Judy Singer in 1998; it emphasizes that neurodivergent individuals are part of the natural variation in humans, not disordered.
What are preferred terms in neurodiversity advocacy?
Neurodiverse, neurodivergent, neurotypical; some prefer “autistic spectrum condition” over “disorder.”
What are the core symptoms of ADHD?
Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
DSM/ICD criteria for ADHD diagnosis?
6 (children) or 5 (adults) symptoms
Present in ≥2 settings
Onset before age 12
Must cause functional impairment
What is the worldwide prevalence of ADHD?
About 3.4% (Polanczyk et al., 2015)
What biological factors are linked to ADHD?
Dopamine receptor gene (D4)
Dopamine/noradrenaline dysregulation
Hypoarousal hypothesis
What psychosocial factors may influence ADHD?
Family stress, ineffective parenting, low support, prenatal exposure to alcohol/smoking.
What medications are used for ADHD?
Methylphenidate, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine.
What psychological interventions are used for ADHD?
Behaviour therapy
CBT
Social skills training
Limited evidence for diet/homeopathy
What does NICE recommend for ADHD treatment by age?
<5 years: Parent training
5+: Psychoeducation, parent training, CBT, medication if needed
Adults: Medication or alternatives
What are the symptoms of Conduct Disorder (CD)?
Aggression, property destruction, deceitfulness/theft, violation of rules.
How does ODD differ from CD?
ODD involves temper tantrums, defiance, and annoyance but not serious aggression or rule violation.
Prevalence of CD?
4-16% in boys, 1-9% in girls.
How do CD symptoms differ between boys and girls?
Boys: Aggression, property damage
Girls: Petty theft, lying, truancy, running away
What is autism and is it a disease?
A neurodevelopmental condition on a spectrum; not a disease but a different way of processing the world.
What is the “triad of impairment” in autism?
Social interaction (difficulty reading others)
Social communication (literal interpretation)
Repetitive behaviours/interests (routine preference)
How prevalent is autism?
Around 1% globally; underdiagnosed in girls.
What are the cognitive theories of autism?
Weak central coherence (focus on detail over context)
Theory of mind deficit (difficulty understanding others’ thoughts)
Executive dysfunction (problems with planning, flexibility)
What are possible causes of autism?
Genetic factors
Prenatal environment (e.g., maternal age, complications)
Multifactorial (e.g., synaptic genes)
What are some autism interventions?
Communication and play-based interventions
CBT for co-existing problems
Sleep and feeding support
ABA (controversial due to past use of aversives)
Why is ABA controversial? (applied behavioural analysis)
While some modern approaches focus on positive reinforcement, early forms used punishment and tried to ‘normalize’ behaviours, leading to ethical concerns.
