Child Psychopathology Attention Deficits Diagnostic Criteria Assessment and theories Case Reading: Chapter 5

Additional criteria for ADHD Excessive, longterm, pervasive behaviors Significant problems in multiple settings Rule out other accounts of behavior Onset before age 7 and go on for 6 months Age inappropriate and persistant DSM-IV describes predominantly inattentive (ADHD-PI), hyperactive/ impulsive (ADHD-HI), and combined types

Associated Characteristics Deficits in metacognition and executive function Difficulty applying intelligence and social skills to everyday situations Comorbid (~50%) learning disabilities Health problems (allergies, ears, sleep) Accident prone, clumsy, risky behaviors Interpersonal problems with family, teachers. peers Can lead to ODD, CD, anxiety, depression, Tourettes

Assessment of attentional problems Behavioral ratings –Multiple reporters and contexts (e.g., parents, teachers) –Hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity Behavioral observations –In vivo (home, school) and in offic; What is “off task”; How do we compare to others? –Recording devices (e.g., “wiggleometer”) Specific tasks –Matching familiar figures –Continuous Performance Task (CPT) Medical, family, school histories

The CPT: Measures of sustained attention and vigilence AACZAAAZAAAABZAAAZABZAAAZ O O O C C C A sequence of letters flash on a computer screen. Press the key when a “Z” follows an A, and at no other time. Scores: Omissions (O), Commissions (C) Correct response: X X X

Prevalence 3-5% of school children more common in boys than girls more common in low SES groups found in all cultures 25 to 50% “grow out” of the problems or learn to cope with the symptoms school environment crucial: what are the attentional demands? How much structure?

What does not cause ADHD Old misconceptions about the causes of ADHD include - artificial flavoring and food additives - sugar and caffeine - “bad parenting” - food allergies - fluorescent lighting - misalignment of the spine These theories were easily accepted by society, although there was little scientific evidence to back them up.

ADHD may be related to underarousal The brain with ADHD has much less activity (red/orange/white) than the brain without ADHD. It shows that people with ADHD do not have enough activity in their brain to focus on what they are doing or control their thoughts

Theories of ADHD Deficits in arousal; underarousal, therefore hyperactivity for self stimulation Motivation deficits; low sensitivity to rewards and punishments Deficits in self regulation, metacognition; thus poor maintenance of effort Deficits in behavioral inhibition Deficits in temporal processing and awareness; “do this for 10 minutes”