PSYX 340 Psychological Disorders · Unit 3: Psychosis, personality and childhood · on Exam 3
3.5 Disorders of childhood and adolescence
Study notes for Disorders of childhood and adolescence in PSYX 340 Psychological Disorders at Montana State University: the big ideas, a worked example, common mistakes and an exam tip. The same topic has endless practice questions and flashcards in Mathub.
Big ideas
- ADHD: inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity (6 or more symptoms in a category for children; 5 for ages 17 and older), present for at least 6 months, with several symptoms before age 12 and in two or more settings. Treated with stimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines) and behavioral parent training and classroom programs.
- Autism spectrum disorder: persistent deficits in social communication and interaction plus restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests or sensory responses, present from early development. Severity levels 1–3 describe how much support is needed. Applied behavior analysis, communication training and supportive education help; vaccines do not cause autism.
- Oppositional defiant disorder (angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior and vindictiveness for at least 6 months) and conduct disorder (repeated violation of others’ rights or major rules: aggression, destruction, deceit, serious rule-breaking). Early-onset conduct disorder can progress to antisocial personality disorder.
- Also in the chapter: separation anxiety disorder, childhood depression and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, enuresis and encopresis, specific learning disorder, and intellectual developmental disorder (deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning beginning in the developmental period; severity is based on adaptive functioning, not IQ alone).
- Children’s disorders are shaped by development: symptoms must be judged against what is normal for the child’s age, and treatment usually involves parents and schools.
Worked example
A 9-year-old is restless, interrupts and loses things at school, but at home and in sports he is calm and organized. Symptoms began this year after a move. Should ADHD be diagnosed?
Show the solution
Probably not. ADHD requires symptoms in two or more settings, lasting at least 6 months, with several present before age 12; here they appear only at school and began recently after a stressor. Adjustment problems, anxiety or a classroom mismatch should be considered first.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the two-settings rule for ADHD.
- Saying autism is caused by vaccines or by cold parenting. Both claims are discredited.
- Using IQ alone for intellectual developmental disorder. Adaptive functioning determines severity.
Exam tipLearn the numbers: ADHD 6 symptoms (5 at 17+), before 12, 6 months, 2+ settings; ODD 6 months; antisocial personality disorder needs conduct disorder before 15.
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