Understanding Childhood Disorders: Asperger’s Syndrome, Conduct Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

1. Chapter 13 Childhood Disorders Part II

2. Asperger’s Syndrome • Milder form of Autism. • Characterized by autism-like deficits in social interaction and in activities and interests. • No delays in language. • In the first three years of life, children with Asperger’s show normal exploratory behavior (that is often absent in children with autism).

3. Asperger’s Syndrome • Difficulties with interpersonal relationships. • Display unusual obsessive-like behaviors (e.g., memorizing, counting). • Usually average intelligence although sometimes display extraordinary cognitive abilities. • Formal in speech. • “Little professor syndrome.”

4. Differences between Asperger’s and High Functioning (IQ > 70) Autism It is believed that in Asperger's Disorder: • onset is usually later • outcome is usually more positive • social and communication deficits are less severe • circumscribed interests are more prominent • verbal IQ is usually higher than performance IQ (in autism, the case is usually the reverse) • clumsiness is more frequently seen • family history is more frequently positive • neurological disorders are less common

5. Conduct Disorder • Chronic pattern of unconcern for the rights of others. • 3 to 7% of children. • Boys more often diagnosed with the disorder (3X more likely). • Associated with the later development of Antisocial Personality Disorder, as well as criminality and violent behavior.

6. Conduct Disorder • Bullies, threatens, or intimidates others. • Initiates physical fights. • Uses weapons in fights. • Engages in theft and burglary. • Is physically abusive to people and animals. • Forces others into sexual activity. • Lies and breaks promises often. • Violates parents’ rules. • Runs away from home. • Sets fires deliberately. • Vandalizes • Skips school often.

7. Oppositional Defiant Disorder • Less severe than conduct disorder. • Symptoms • Often loses temper • Often argues with adults • Refuses to comply with requests or rules • Tries to annoy others • Blames others for his/her mistakes • Easily annoyed • Angry and resentful • Spiteful or vindictive • Onset is earlier than conduct disorder. • May develop in to conduct disorder.

8. Theories • Temperament of impulsivity • Genetics • Exposure to neurotoxins and drugs in the womb (may result in poor neurodevelopment which manifests itself through poor impulse control). • Low cortisol • High serotonin • Higher levels of testosterone (dependent upon a context of social deviance)

9. Social Factors • Family environment marked by abuse, neglect, substance use, psychopathology • Poor parenting • Maladaptive cognitive processing (biased towards interpreting interactions as being aggressive) • Maladaptive behavior reinforced by peer group or parents • Modeling