Developmental PsychologyAgendaADHDSymptomsSlide 5Slide 6PowerPoint PresentationCausesTreatment: what helps?What helps parents?Slide 11Examples of What helps kidsSlide 13Autism Spectrum DisordersSlide 15When parents get concernedCommunication impairmentSocial/communicationRestricted and repetitive activities and interestsSometimes have Unusual AbilitiesSome aspects of Asperger syndrome or high functioning autismHow do you observe young children?Probing questions for parents:RatesEtiologyGeneticsVaccinesWhat is it like for the parents?TreatmentTreatment:MedicationsHave a great weekend!Dr. van WidenfeltPSYC 307-100FALL 2015Agenda Developmental psychopathology continuedchildhood disorders: ADHD, ASDADHDAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)has great difficulty concentrating for more than a few moments is inattentive, impulsive, and overactive.Symptoms must be present before age 7; New DSM5 must be present before age 12Note: May not have all of the symptom categoriesSymptomsInattentionCarelessLoses thingsEasily distratedForgetfulDoesn’t listenDifficulty sustained attentionSymptomsHyperactivitySquirmy, fidgetyRuns, climbsOn the goVery chattySymptomsImpulsivityInterruptsCan’t wait turnBlurts out answers in schoolBoys to girls 4:1Accounts for almost half of mental health referralAffects children in middle childhoodCausesAgain multiple causesTreatment: what helps?Behavior managmentHomeClassroomPharmacological treatmentWhat helps parents?Parent trainingHelp with how to respondStay neutral and positive and not negativePraising and rewardingTrying to use DO statements rather than don’tHelp parents break that cycle of negative “attention’Help with how to create structure and clarityHave certain non-negotiable rulesSet limitsHave reasonable consequences (Not huge threats that are disproportional or can’t be carried out)Senario: interruptingGentle reminders: “your turn in a minute”Scenario: teasing sister at dinnerYou can .... But you can’t ...touch your sisterIf the rule is broken, there is one warningExamples of What helps kidsSelf-talk related to stop, think before actReframe negative self talkInstead of "I'm so stupid. I can't do this", try "I'm not stupid, but I do struggle with this. But I know if I keep at it I can do it".Autism Spectrum DisordersAutistic spectrum disorder (ASD)•-developmental disorders•-a range of disorders and severity, high and low functioning•Likely life-long disorder•Earlier diagnosis essential•SymptomsThree signs of an autism spectrum disorder•Under age 3•-Delayed language•-Impaired social responses•-Unusual, repetitive play•--restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.•-hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input•May or may not be extra sensitive (ie itchy clothes, pain)• seek or avoid lights, motion, touch•Seek sensory input: Rocking, jumpingWhen parents get concerned•Parents usually start getting concerned by 15 months of age about social difficulties and speech delays•Can’t tell in first year•Retrospectively: 70% see development was never normal ie may have never liked being cuddled•For 30% clear setback in 2nd or 3rd yearCommunication impairment•30% never acquire useful speech•Delayed and sometimes not properly developed later•-parroting speech•-talking at someone rather than conversing with•-speech used for demanding things•- talk at length about current preoccupations•-use of strange idiosyncratic phrasesSocial/communicationRestricted and repetitive activities and interestsInsists on routines and ritualsSmall changes , results in tantrumDuring play : ordering (lining things up)Usually don’t see pretend play as toddlersUnusual interest in an objectSometimes have Unusual AbilitiesMight see already as toddlersExceptional skillsInterest in shapes, letters, numbersEarly recognition of signs (“reading”)Good expressive vocabularyGreat memory for movies, booksEvt: knowledge of one particular subject High functioning Often viewed as having “asperger syndrome’Some aspects of Asperger syndrome or high functioning autismDon’t see the early language delay that is apparent in other ASDTheir special interest is often the sole topic of conversationLove to talk about their special interest regardless of other persons interest and reactionDeflecting might be met with annoyanceSpecial interest more extreme than others, may have unusual knowledge in certain areaHow do you observe young children?Direct observation/interactions/“clinical probes”Pointing and directing child to “look” (12–15 months)Calling child’s name (12 months)Asking “Where’s mommy?”Eye contact, gaze referencing, pointing—evidence of joint attentionObserve for unusual movements (looking at things closely, out of corner of eye, repetitive movements, sensitivities)Probing questions for parents:What is your child’s favorite toy/type of play? (12 to 18 months)Does your child babble? Wave bye-bye? Raise arms to be lifted? Hear your voice as well as other things in the environment? (9 to 12 months)Does your child have echolalia, “pop-up” words, exceptional labeling? (12, 15, and 24 months)Do you notice delays in social skills or language?RatesRatio boys to girls = 4 : 1Cause unknownIncrease in recent yearsNow diagnosing 1 in 88 childrenIncrease Likely due to:Increased awarenessChanges in diagnositic criteria (widened)EtiologyUNKNOWNInitially described as a disorder of parenting/“refrigerator mothers”Multiple causes: EquifinalitySTRONG genetic causeMay be passed down in familyMay be a genetic mutation in that individual that is not passed downOther factors in the developmental process:Increased age of father can be risk factorExposure to certain agents during mother’s pregnancyThere may be a role of other systems as wellImmuneGastrointestinal (GI)GeneticsComplex, yet strong genetic factorsStrongest evidence from twin studies Identical twins with aprox 70% chanceFraternal twins with aprox 30% chanceSibs aprox 20%Relatives may be affected by difficulties that are conceptually related to autistic behaviors (broader autistic phenotype)VaccinesVaccines DO NOT cause