Developmental Psychopathology

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Developmental Psychopathology
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Developmental Psychopathology

• The study of the origins and course of
  maladaptive behavior as compared to the
  development of normal behavior
• Do not look at these as diseases but rather
  adaptations over time

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What Makes Behavior Abnormal?

• Statistical Deviance
• Maladaptiveness
• Dangerousness included
• Personal Distress
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
  Disorders (DSM IV TR)

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Developmental Psychopathology

• The Diathesis-Stress Model
• Psychopathology results from the interaction over
  time
• of a predisposition or vulnerability to a
  psychological disorder
• and the experience of stressful events

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Autism

• Characterized by
• Abnormal social development
• Failure to relate to others
• Impaired language and communication skills
• Lack of speech or ability to initiate or sustain
  conversation
• Repetitive, stereotyped behavior and restrictive
  behavior
• Most comfortable with sameness of environment
• Must show abnormal functioning in social
  behavior, comunication, or imaginative play
  before age 3
• May or may not have intellectual impairment

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Autism

• Effects approx 30/10,000
• 4/1 boys
• Generally becomes evident between 18 to 30 months
  of age but often not diagnosed until around age 6

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Causes of Autism

• Theory of Mind Hypothesis
• Failure to develop Theory of Mind
• Executive Dysfunction Hypothesis
• Deficit in the higher-level control functions
  associated with the prefrontal cortex of the
  brain that allows planning, adaptation to change,
  etc.
• Weak Central Coherence Hypothesis
• Can focus on specifics but not the big picture
• Allows development of special talents in specific
  areas (savant syndrome or intelligence)

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Aspergers Disorder

• A milder form of PDD
• Characterized by
• Poor social interaction
• Development of narrow, obsessive or repetitive
  behavior
• Not as significantly impaired in intellect or
  language

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Learning Disorders

• Mathematics disorder
• Disorder of written expression
• Reading disorder (dyslexia)

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Some combination of three main characteristics
• Inattention
• Impulsivity
• Hyperactivity
• Effects approx 3 5 of children
• Boys 2/1

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Conduct Problems

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Non delinquent negativistic or oppositional
  behavior
• Defy authority by arguing with parents and
  teachers
• Refuse to follow requests and directives
• Deliberately annoy others and they themselves are
  easily annoyed

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Conduct Problems

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Non delinquent negativistic or oppositional
  behavior
• Conduct Disorder
• Purposeful and intentional engagement in patterns
  of antisocial behavior that violates social norms
  and the rights of others
• Boys
• Stealing, fighting, vandalism, disciplinary
  problems at school
• Girls
• Lying, truancy, running away, substance use, and
  prostitution

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Depression

• Similar feelings of helplessness, distorted
  thinking patterns, low self esteem and
  perceptions of confidence seen in all ages
• Symptoms can include
• Loss of interest in activities
• Weight gain or loss
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Lack of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Reduced concentration or ability to make
  decisions
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts

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Depression

• Children
• Refusal to attend school
• Fear of parents dying
• Conduct disorders
• Academic problems
• Physical complaints
• Hyperactivity
• Adolescents
• Aggressiveness
• Sexual acting out

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Dementia (Senility)

• A progressive deterioration of neural functioning
  associated with memory impairment, declines in
  tested intellectual ability, poor judgment,
  difficulty thinking abstractly, and possible
  personality changes

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Dementia

• Alzheimers Disease (Dementia of the Alzheimers
  Type)
• A progressive brain disease characterized by
  gradual loss of memory and intellectual
  functioning, personality changes, and eventual
  loss of the ability to care for oneself.
• Accounts for 50 70 of dementia cases
• 4th leading cause of death
• Up to 10 over age 65
• 40 over age 70