Behavioral Disorders

The most common childhood disorders tend to fall into one of two categories: behavioral disorders or emotional disorders. This assignment will focus on the behavioral disorders of childhood, which include the following:

· Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

· Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

· Conduct disorder (CD)

In this assignment, you will gain a better understanding of the similarities and differences among these three disorders by filling out the behavioral disorders template provided.

Recommended sources include your textbook and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. You can visit this website at the following:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

· Complete the first three pages of tables in the template by providing information related to the three disorders.

· On page four of the template, explain the reasons you agree or disagree with Anna's diagnosis of ADHD (in at least 300 words). Support your opinion with information from academic sources.

o If you agree, list her symptoms that correspond with ADHD. Identify at least one other problem or issue that would need to be treated.

o If you disagree, identify at least two problems or issues you believe are the most significant and most in need of treatment.

o Describe appropriate treatments for each identified problem or issue.

Add a title and reference page to the template and apply APA standards to citation of sources, including in-text citations and full refereces.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Symptoms of Inattention and Impulsivity

List the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) symptoms under the category, "inattention."

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Symptoms of Hyperactivity

List the DSM symptoms under the category, "hyperactivity and impulsivity."

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Gender Differences

Identify at least two gender differences in the prevalence or types of ADHD.

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Possible Causes

Identify at least three possible causes of ADHD.

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Evidence-Based Treatments

Identify at least two treatments proven effective by research.

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Sources

List your sources or references here (at least two academic sources are required). Be sure to include in-text citations within your responses in the table.

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Pros and Cons of Diagnosing Children

One of the great controversies in the field of psychology relates to how we define normal and abnormal behavior. There is general agreement with the official definitions of abnormal behavior; that is, abnormal behavior is severe or maladaptive enough to need diagnosis and psychological or psychiatric treatment.

These official definitions are contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). There have been many revisions of this manual over the years. Currently, we are using the fifth edition, or the DSM-5 (APA, 2013).

Children and adolescents who display certain behaviors that cause them to have significant difficulty in their everyday functioning are likely to be diagnosed with one of the disorders in the DSM. Some of those diagnoses are temporary, whereas others are life-long.

Review the following case:

Anna, a four-year-old Mexican-American girl, lives with her mother and father. Anna's parents immigrated to the United States years before her birth. Her mother speaks only Spanish with her, while her father speaks only English. Anna's parents are migrant workers who must move regularly.

Anna and her parents have moved over ten times since her birth. They hope to provide Anna with more stability, now that she is approaching school age. Therefore, they are seeking other forms of employment.

Anna recently completed kindergarten orientation. The school psychologist recommended that her parents have her evaluated further, as her speech development is significantly delayed.

She speaks very little; her vocabulary was screened at the kindergarten orientation and was found to be at least two years behind typical speech development. During the kindergarten screening, Anna was hyperactive, unable to sit still, distracted, and unable to complete the tasks. She was unable to complete them partially due to their difficulty level, but also due to her inability to focus sufficiently.

After a thorough evaluation at the local mental health center, Anna was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She began participating in a behavioral modification program with a bilingual therapist, who speaks both English and Spanish. She will be evaluated in a few weeks by the psychiatrist, who will decide whether to prescribe stimulant medication for the ADHD.