What is neurodevelopment? (1 sentence, 3 examples)
The brain’s development of neurological pathways that influence performance/functioning of behaviour
Intellectual functioning
Social skills
Attention abilities
When does neurodevelopment begin? (4 points)
Begins in early prenatal stages
Complex neurological processes emerge around 9 weeks
Continues throughout pregnancy
Majority of growth during 0-3 years
What is atypical development defined as in developmental psychology, psychopathology, and developmental psychopathology? (3 points)
Developmental psychology
- comparison to typical development
Psychopathology
- comparison to adult models
Developmental psychopathology
- comparison to typical development + adult models
What are neurodevelopmental disorders? (definition, 4 examples, gender differences)
Disabilities in the functioning of the brain that affect child’s behaviour, memory, or ability to learn
Mental retardation, dyslexia, learning difficulties, ADHD
More common in males than females compared to depression, anxiety and eating disorders more common in adolescent females.
What is the DSM-5 Definition of a mental disorder? (4 points)
Syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance:
In cognition - emotion regulation/behaviour
Reflects dysfunction in psychological, biological, developmental processes of mental functioning
Associated with distress/disability in social, occupational, other important activities.
What are the broad criteria underlying the DSM-5 categories? (3 points)
Similar antecedents (biological, psychological, social, environmental) / risk factors grouped together
Common concurrent variables / correlates (underlying biological abnormalities) grouped together
Similar outcomes + response to treatment grouped together
What does DSM-5 stand for?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
What are the strengths of the DSM-5 definition? (4 points)
- Adopts medical model (disorder resides within individual rather than between people)
- Claims mental disorders must have underlying psychobiological dysfunction
- Describes people with mental disorders as experiencing distress/disability
- Assesses disorders in terms of individual’s social and cultural background
What are the weaknesses of the DSM-5 definition? (5 points)
- Relational nature of disorders + interpersonal context = ignored
- Specific biological causes not identified for most mental disorders
- Not all children show same biological abnormalities
- Relationship between abnormality and disorder = not causal
- Some disorders may be entirely psychological
What are 6 ADHD inattention symptoms?
- Difficult sustaining attention
- Does not listen when spoken to directly
- Difficult organizing tasks/activities
- Avoids tasks requiring sustained mental effort
- Forgetful in daily activities
- Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
What are 6 hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms?
- Difficulty playing/engaging in activities quietly
- Talks excessively
- Blurts out answers
- Difficult waiting in lines/awaiting turn
- Interrupts others
- Fidgets with hands / feet or squirms in seat
What are four requirements for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD?
- Symptoms present before age 7
- Clinically significant impairment in social, academic/occupational functioning
- Some symptoms present in 2 or more settings
- Not due to another disorder (autism/mood disorder/anxiety disorder)
What percentage of the population gets diagnosed with ADHD, and what percent of children are referred?
6-10% prevalence of population
50% children referred to mental health clinics are referred for ADHD problems
What is the annual societal and individual cost of illness for ADHD?
Societal - 36-52 billion dollars
Individual - 12-17 thousand dollars
What is the ratio of ADHD in males to females?
More common in males than females
3:1 in epidemiological samples
3:1 to 9:1 in clinic samples
What are the main characteristics of ADHD that suggest it is a disorder of childhood development? (4 points)
- observed early in child development
- behaviour persists over time
- child not able to perform at age-appropriate levels
- related to brain function
What is the developmental course of ADHD? (3 points)
Persistent across lifespan
Inattention remains stables
Hyperactivity declines
What adult outcomes including psychiatry comorbidity can ADHD lead to? (2 points)
When ADHD co-occurs with conduct disorder, can lead to chronic criminality + substance abuse
When ADHD co-occurs with depression = risk of suicide
How does ADHD impact brain structure and function in children, and what executive function abilities are associated?
Differences in brain maturation/structure/functioning mainly affect frontostriatal circuitry
- slower maturation of prefrontal cortex
- structural abnormalities basal ganglia
- smaller cerebellum volumes
Attention
Spatial working memory
Short-term memory
Response inhibition and set shifting
What are well-established ADHD treatments? (2 types, 4 points)
Stimulant medications
Behavioural interventions:
Parent training
Classroom management
Summer treatment programs
What are limitations of stimulant treatment? (8)
- differences in response
- limited impact on functional impairment
- does not normalise behaviour
- family problems beyond scope of medication
- no long-term effects established
- long-term use rare
- limited parent/teacher satisfaction
- some families not willing to try medication
What type of disorder is ADHD? (1 sentence)
A highly prevalent, brain-based disorder associated with life long impairment in functioning
How do environmental factors effect ADHD? (1 sentence)
Can contribute to the severity, course, and comorbid conditions
What are the potential long-term developmental outcomes for individuals with ADHD? (4)
Substance abuse
Chronic criminality
Depression
Suicide
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Doing Psychology 1.112
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Doing Psychology 1.231
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Doing Psychology 1.312
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Differential 2.1 and 2.211
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Differential 2.39
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Differential 3.19
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Differential 3.2 and 3.325
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Developmental 4.139
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Developmental 4.224
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Developmental 4.330
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Developmental 5.129
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Developmental 5.220
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Developmental 5.336
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Doing Psychology 7.112
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Doing Psychology 7.217
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Language 8.116
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Language 8.211
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Language 8.315
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Language 9.138
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Language 9.231
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Language 9.310
