Lecture 9 Textbook

Question 1

What is the prevalence of any mental disorder by age 18?

Answer 1

About 49.5% of children and adolescents.

Question 2

What disorder has the earliest onset in children?

Answer 2

Anxiety disorders (around age 6).

Question 3

Why must child behavior be evaluated differently than adult behavior?

Answer 3

Because what is abnormal in adults might be developmentally normal in children.

Question 4

What makes young children more vulnerable to mental health issues?

Answer 4

Limited self-understanding, poor stress coping, and high dependence on adults.

Question 5

What is separation anxiety disorder (SAD)?

Answer 5

Excessive fear of being separated from attachment figures, common in young children.

Question 6

What are symptoms of SAD?

Answer 6

Crying, nightmares, clinging, refusing school, or physical illness at separation.

Question 7

Which anxiety disorder is most common in youth, especially girls?

Answer 7

Specific phobia.

Question 8

What are some causes of anxiety disorders in children?

Answer 8

Genetics, temperament, family/cultural stress, traumatic experiences, overprotective parenting.

Question 9

What treatments are effective for anxiety in youth?

Answer 9

Medications (benzodiazepines, SSRIs) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Question 10

What are signs of childhood depression?

Answer 10

Sadness, withdrawal, crying, poor appetite, aggression, avoiding eye contact, suicidal thoughts.

Question 11

How common is depression in youth?

Answer 11

About 12% experience major depression; higher in girls (16%) than boys (8%).

Question 12

How has the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children changed?

Answer 12

Increased greatly since mid-1990s, possibly due to broader criteria or overdiagnosis.

Question 13

What is longitudinal research?

Answer 13

Studies that follow the same people over a long time to see changes.

Question 14

What parental factor is linked to depression in children?

Answer 14

Parental depression.

Question 15

What does CBT for anxiety involve?

Answer 15

Psychoeducation (understand their fears), exposure to feared situations, and positive reinforcement (get rewards for trying).

Question 16

How does parental depression affect children?

Answer 16

Increases child’s risk of depression, impairs mood/behavior, especially if parents are unresponsive.

Question 17

What treatments are effective for childhood depression?

Answer 17

Psychological therapies (like CBT), antidepressants (mixed results, possible side effects).

Question 18

What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)?

Answer 18

Persistent negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures for at least 6 months.

Question 19

What is Conduct Disorder (CD)?

Answer 19

Persistent, repetitive violation of rules or rights of others, with behaviors like aggression, theft, destruction, or serious rule breaking.

Question 20

What are common comorbidities for CD?

Answer 20

Substance abuse and depressive disorders.

Question 21

What are DSM-5 criteria for Conduct Disorder?

Answer 21

At least 3 behaviors from aggression to people/animals, property destruction, deceit/theft, or serious rule violations in past 12 months.

Question 22

What are the main causes of ODD and CD?

Answer 22

Genetics, low IQ, neuropsychological issues, negative environment, difficult temperament, and poor parenting.

Question 23

What is a self-perpetuating cycle in CD/ODD?

Answer 23

Early cognitive/behavioral problems lead to school trouble, which worsens learning and behavior, creating ongoing difficulties.

Question 24

What does early-onset CD increase the risk of?

Answer 24

Adult psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder.

Question 25

What family factors contribute to CD and ODD?

Answer 25

Rejection, harsh/inconsistent discipline, neglect, and family stress.

Question 26

Why is social rejection important in CD/ODD?

Answer 26

Rejected/aggressive children may become more isolated and seek deviant peer groups, worsening behavior.

Question 27

What are the most effective treatments for CD/ODD?

Answer 27

Parent management training and family-based interventions focusing on parenting and problem-solving skills.

Question 28

What is the effect of early intervention for at-risk children?

Answer 28

Greatly reduces likelihood of developing conduct disorder later.

Question 29

What are elimination disorders?

Answer 29

Childhood disorders with inappropriate elimination, like enuresis (bed-wetting).

Question 30

What is encopresis?

Answer 30

Repeated involuntary passing of stool in children over age 4.

Question 31

What causes encopresis?

Answer 31

Often constipation, sometimes psychological issues or stress.

Question 32

What are neurodevelopmental disorders?

Answer 32

Disorders that begin in early childhood, often persist, and are due to disruptions in brain development (e.g., ADHD, autism).

Question 33

What are the core symptoms of ADHD?

Answer 33

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning.

Question 34

How common is ADHD?

Answer 34

About 9% of children and adolescents, more common in boys.

Question 35

Do ADHD symptoms continue into adulthood?

Answer 35

Yes, for about half of children diagnosed, usually as inattention.

Question 36

What are DSM-5 criteria for ADHD?

Answer 36

Six or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity for at least 6 months, starting before age 12, in two or more settings, causing significant impairment.

Question 37

Give 3 symptoms of inattention in ADHD.

Answer 37

Often fails to give close attention to details, has difficulty sustaining attention, often does not follow through on instructions.

Question 38

Give 3 symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity in ADHD.

Answer 38

Often fidgets or squirms, runs/climbs inappropriately, often talks excessively or blurts out answers.

Question 39

What are the main symptoms of ADHD?

Answer 39

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Question 40

What causes ADHD?

Answer 40

Both genetic and environmental factors; delayed brain development in attention/impulse areas.

Question 41

How is ADHD treated?

Answer 41

Stimulant medications (like Ritalin), non-stimulant medications, and behavioral interventions.

Question 42

What are the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Answer 42

Social/communication deficits and restricted/repetitive behaviors or interests.

Question 43

When is ASD usually diagnosed?

Answer 43

By age 3, sometimes as early as 2.

Question 44

What are examples of restricted/repetitive behaviors in ASD?

Answer 44

Hand-flapping, lining up objects, insistence on sameness/routine.

Question 45

What is the DSM-5 criteria for ASD?

Answer 45

Persistent social/communication deficits, restricted/repetitive behaviors, onset in early childhood, significant impairment, not explained by another disorder.

Question 46

How do babies later diagnosed with autism differ in eye contact?

Answer 46

They show a decline in looking at people’s eyes from 2–6 months old.

Question 47

What are common symptoms of autism?

Answer 47

Limited speech, self-stimulatory movements, need for sameness, strong attachment to objects.

Question 48

What causes autism?

Answer 48

Strong genetic component, sometimes de novo mutations, many genes involved.

Question 49

What is the most effective treatment for autism?

Answer 49

Early, intensive behavioral intervention (e.g., ESDM, 40+ hours/week, with parent involvement).

Question 50

What are tics?

Answer 50

Sudden, repetitive movements or sounds (e.g., blinking, sniffing, throat-clearing).

Question 51

What is Tourette’s disorder?

Answer 51

Chronic disorder with both motor and vocal tics, usually starts around age 7, more common in boys.

Question 52

What is coprolalia?

Answer 52

Involuntary swearing or saying inappropriate things, seen in some with Tourette’s disorder.

Question 53

How are tics treated?

Answer 53

Conditioning and assertive training; sometimes medication.

Question 54

Why is treatment for children different from adults?

Answer 54

Children rely on adults to seek help; treatment usually involves the family.

Question 55

How can parents be used as change agents?

Answer 55

By training them to manage and reinforce positive behaviors in their children.

Question 56

What makes family therapy important in child treatment?

Answer 56

Child problems often result from or affect family interactions; involving the whole family improves outcomes.

Question 57

What are the risks of foster care or group home placement?

Answer 57

Can lead to emotional issues like loneliness, rejection, and higher mental health needs.

Question 58

Why is early intervention important?

Answer 58

It helps prevent psychological problems from becoming severe and harder to treat.

Question 59

What do child advocacy programs do?

Answer 59

Help children access mental health and support services they can’t get on their own.

Question 60

What is the trend in child treatment planning?

Answer 60

Focus on permanent family solutions, early intervention, and community-based support rather than institutions.