childhood and neurodevelopmental disorders

Question 1

characteristics of the resilient child

Answer 1

• adaptive temperament
• ability to form nurturing relationships with surrogate parental figures
• ability to distance self from emotional chaos in parents, family
• good social intelligence, problem-solving skills

resiliency tells us why two different children in the same circumstance have different outcomes

Question 2

pervasive developmental disorders

Answer 2

< old category >

pervasive severe impairment in communication skills and reciprocal relationships

subtypes: autistic disorder (standard), aspberger’s (high functioning), rett’s (mid-childhood severeI, disintegrative disorder (delayed onset severe)

Question 3

autism spectrum disorder: severity level 3 requires

Answer 3

very substantial support

Question 4

autism spectrum disorder: severity level 2 requires

Answer 4

substantial support

Question 5

autism spectrum disorder: severity level 1 requires

Answer 5

support in general

Question 6

autism spectrum disorder: deficits

Answer 6

persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts:

• social-emotional reciprocity
• nonverbal communication behaviors used for social interaction
• developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships

Question 7

formerly pervasive developmental disorders

Answer 7

now called autism spectrum disorder

Question 8

autism spectrum disorder: manifested as

Answer 8

restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities manifested by AT LEAST TWO of the following:

• stereotyped OR repetitive motor movements, use of objects, speech
• insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines or ritualized patterns of verbal/non-verbal behavior
• highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity/focus
• hyper OR hyporeactivity to sensory input OR unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment

Question 9

autism spectrum disorder: symptom criteria

Answer 9

• must be present in the early developmental period (though may not manifest until social demands exceed capacities)
• cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning

Question 10

formerly classified as disruptive behavior disorders

Answer 10

ADHD and impulse control disorders

- are heterogeneous behavioral disorders with multiple possible etiologies

Question 11

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Answer 11

developmentally inappropriate POOR ATTENTION SPAN or age-inappropriate features of HYPERACTIVITY and IMPULSIVITY (or both)

• more frequent in males, firstborn boys most common; high first degree relative risk (fathers)

Question 12

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnostic criteria

Answer 12

• 6 or more inattentive symptoms

- 6 or more hyperactivity/impulsivity

Question 13

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: other associated features

Answer 13

• decreased self-esteem, depression
• developmental delay, learning disabilities
• conduct disorders, substance abuse

Question 14

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: symptom course

Answer 14

• may be observed in infants
• usually diagnosed in elementary, stable through early adolescence
• sx often dissipate in late adolescence/early adulthood
• MINORITY continue with full sx into mid-adulthood
• some partial remission (may retain some sx)

Question 15

oppositional defiant disorder

Answer 15

pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, OR vindictiveness lasting AT LEAST 6 MONTHS

at least 4 SYMPTOMS from 3 categories above (see clinical feature); sx exhibited during interaction with at least one individual who is not a sibling

if left unaddressed, worsens over time and spreads to other parts of life. can precede conduct disorder, which is much harder to intervene with - INTERVENE NOW

Question 16

oppositional defiant disorder: mild

Answer 16

one setting

Question 17

oppositional defiant disorder: moderate

Answer 17

at least 2 settings

Question 18

oppositional defiant disorder: severe

Answer 18

more than 2 settings

Question 19

oppositional defiant disorder: clinical feature categories

Answer 19

angry/irritable mood
- irritable, easily annoyed, angry, resentful, often loses temper

argumentative/defiant behavior
- often argues, actively defies, refuses to comply with authority, blames others, deliberately annoys others

vindictiveness
- spiteful, enjoys/seeks revenge

Question 20

conduct disorder

Answer 20

repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which
- the basic rights of others are violated
OR
- major age-appropriate societal norms/rules are violated

childhood-onset type often proceeded by oppositional defiant disorder (cd much harder to intervene)

Question 21

conduct disorder: prognosis

Answer 21

depends on age of onset, number and frequency of symptoms, intellectual ability, co-morbid conditions

Question 22

conduct disorder: diagnostic criteria

Answer 22

3 or more criteria in past 12 mo, at least one present in past 6

categories:

• aggression towards people, animals
• destruction of property
• deceitfulness, theft
• serious violation of rules

Question 23

conduct disorder: clinical features

Answer 23

LACK OF GUILT, EMPATHY, REMORSE

• bullies, threatens, initiates fights, uses weapons, physical cruelty to animals, people
• lying, cheating, stealing
• deliberate destruction of property
• truancy, runaway behaviors prior to age 13

Question 24

neurotransmitters that are dysfunctional in a majority of childhood/neurodevelopmental disorders

Answer 24

dopamine and norepinephrine

+ wherever NE is involved, a smaller amount of 5HT, too