Childhood Disorders Classification

Study Notes

Classification and Diagnosis of Childhood Disorders

Some disorders are unique to children, e.g., separation anxiety disorder.
Some disorders are primarily childhood disorders but may continue into adulthood, e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Some disorders are present in both children and adults, e.g., depression.

Treatment of Conduct Disorder

Family interventions, including multisystemic therapy, are used to deliver intensive community-based services.
Family check-ups (FCU) are associated with less disruptive behavior.
Parental management training (PMT) teaches parents to reward prosocial behavior.

Depression in Children and Adolescents

Symptoms common to children, adolescents, and adults include depressed mood, inability to experience pleasure, early morning awakening, fatigue, loss of appetite, problems concentrating, weight loss, and suicidal ideation.
Symptoms specific to children and adolescents include higher rates of suicide attempts and guilt.
Etiology of depression in children and adolescents includes genetic factors, less warmth, and more hostility.
Prevalence of depression is 1% of preschoolers, 2-3% of school-age children, and 6% of girls and 4% of boys during adolescence.

Treatment of Depression in Children and Adolescents

Medications: SSRIs are more effective than tricyclics.
Psychotherapy: interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and CBT are generally only modestly effective with children and adolescents.

Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

Fears and worries are common in childhood.
Anxiety disorder: 3-5% of children and adolescents are diagnosed with anxiety disorder, which must interfere with functioning.
OCD: prevalence is 1 to 4%, symptoms are similar to those in adults, and most common obsessions include contamination from dirt and germs.
OCD is more common in boys than girls.

Etiology of Anxiety Disorders

Genetics play a stronger role in separation anxiety in the context of more negative life events.
Parenting plays a small role in anxiety disorders.

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence

Exposure to feared object, reward approach behavior, and CBT are used.
Psychoeducation is also used.

Learning Disability

Evidence of inadequate development in a specific area of academic, language, speech, or motor skills, e.g., arithmetic or reading.
Not due to mental retardation, autism, physical disorder, or lack of educational opportunity.
Individual usually of average or above-average intelligence.
Often identified and treated in school.
Reading disorders are more common in boys.

Specific Learning Disorder DSM-5 Criteria

Difficulties in learning basic academic skills (reading, mathematics, or writing) inconsistent with person's age, schooling, and intelligence.
Significant interference with academic achievement or activities of daily living.

Etiology of Learning Disabilities

Impairment in reading (formerly dyslexia): genetic factors, speech perception, and analysis of sounds and their relationship to printed words.
Evidence from family and twin studies shows genes are associated with typical reading abilities (generalist genes).
Problems in language processing.

Treatment of Learning Disabilities

Reading and writing specifiers: multisensory instruction in listening, speaking, and writing skills.
Readiness skills in younger children as preparation for learning to read.
Phonics instruction is used.

Description

This quiz covers the classification and diagnosis of various disorders that affect children, including those unique to childhood, those that continue into adulthood, and those that affect both children and adults.