CHILDHOOD

P S YC H I AT R I C
DISORDERS

B Y,
ANN ROSE SUNNY
3 RD S E M E S T E R M S W
 CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Childhood disorders
3. Pervasive developmental disorders
– Autistic disorder
– Asperger’s disorder
– Childhood disintegrative disorder
– Rett’s disorder
• Epidemiology
• Causes
• Clinical picture
• Treatment
• ICD-10, DSM-IV
4. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Epidemiology
• Causes
• Clinical picture
• Treatment
• ICD-10, DSM-IV
5. Conclusion
6. References
 INTRODUCTION
Childhood is a period of development toward adult personality and behavioural
patterns. It is also a period of vulnerability to a variety of difficulties. Childhood
disorders are also called as developmental disorder or learning disorders. These
disorders usually have onset in childhood and adolescence.
The various psychiatric disorders in childhood are mental retardation, specific
developmental disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, ADHD, conduct
disorders, autism etc…
PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
The pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) are a group of disorders that
classify children presenting with impairments and deviances in social interaction,
language, communication and play.

• It indicates that a disturbance in development is pervasive and concurrently

affects more than one developmental behaviour.
• Manifested early in life and cause persistent dysfunction.
• DSM-IV-TR includes 5 disorders: Autistic disorder, Rett’s disorder, Childhood
Disintegrative disorder and Asperger's disorder.
AUTISTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by
some degree of impaired social behaviour, communication and language, and a
narrow range of interests and activities that are both unique to the individual and
carried out repetitively.

• ASDs begin in childhood and tend to persist into adolescence and adulthood. In
most cases the conditions are apparent during the first 5 years of life.
• Individuals with ASD often present other co-occurring conditions, including
epilepsy, depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).
EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Prevalence of Autism: Between 1 in 500 (2/1,000) to 1 in 166 children
(6/1,000) have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (Centre for Disease Control).
• Prevalence Rate: Approx. 1 in 500 or 0.20% or more than 2,160,000 people in
India.
• Incidence Rate: Approx. 1 in 90,666 or 11,914 people in India
• Sex distribution: Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls
• The rate of incidence of autism is increasing 10-17% per year
• The onset of autism is before the age of 3 years.
DSM-IV CORE CHARACTERISTICS: CRITERIA
FOR AUTISTIC DISORDER
• Deficits in reciprocal social interaction
• Impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication
• Restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behaviours and interests
 CAUSES
• Genetics
• Environmental factors.
 CLINICAL FEATURES
• Impairment in social interaction
• Impaired communication
• Restricted repertoire of activities and interests
• Cognitive impairment
• Abnormal responses to sensory stimuli
• Self injurious behaviour
 TREATMENT
• Behavioural therapy
• Pharmacotherapy
– Haloperidol
– Risperidone
– Drugs like chlorpromazine, amphetamines, imipramine.
 ASPERGER’S DISORDER
The disorder was first described by German Psychiatrist Hans Asperger in 1944.
Asperger’s Disorder is a developmental disorder affecting ability to effectively
socialise and communicate. It includes severe and long lasting impairments in social
interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests.

• Impairment in non-verbal behaviours

• Fail to develop peer relationships
• Lack of social or emotional reciprocity
• Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
• Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
 CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER
It is also known as Heller’s syndrome
Childhood disintegrative disorder is a rare condition characterized by late onset of
developmental delays or severe and sudden loss in language, social function and
motor skills.
• The first sign of the disorder which appear between ages 3 and 4.
• It occurs only once in every million births.
• Before age 10, loss of previously acquired skills.
• Impairment of social interaction
• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests and activities.
 RETT’S DISORDER
First described in 1966 by Andreas Rett
Rett’s disorder is a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects
the way the brain develops, causing a progressive loss of motor skills and speech.
• This disorder mostly affects girls, between 5 and 48 months of age.
• Smaller head than normal child
• Loose previously acquired skills
• Inability to relate socially to other people
• They loose verbal and motor skills.
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
[ADHD]
ADHD was first described by Heinrich Hoff in 1854.
This disorder is also known as Hyperkinetic Disorder.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an
ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with
functioning or development.
 REFERENCES
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5th edition, oxford university press, 2006.
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John Wiley and sons, 1997.
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science/clinical psychiatry,10th edition, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2007.
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Jaypee brothers medical publishers ltd, New Delhi, 1999.
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