Disorders of Childhood & Adolescence

Care for Disorders in Childhood & Adolescence

Disorders first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence, such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Rett syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, and intellectual disabilities, are brain-based illnesses and have many similarities to disorders diagnosed more commonly in adulthood.

OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD).

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is an enduring pattern of angry or irritable mood and argumentative, defiant, or vindictive behavior lasting at least 6 months with at least four of the associated symptoms: Loses temper, Touchy or easily annoyed, Angry or resentful, argues with authority, actively defies, or refuses to comply with request or rules from authority figures, blames others, deliberately annoys others, & Spiteful or vindictive.

CONDUCT DISORDER. 

Conduct disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the rights of others or societal norms or rules are violated. The presence of at least three of the following criteria must be present in the past 12 months, with one in the past 6 months:

Aggression toward people or animals—bullies, threatens, intimidates, initiates physical fights, uses a weapon to cause physical harm to others, physically cruel to people or animals, stealing while confronting a victim, forced sexual activity on someone

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  • Destruction of property—engaged in fire-setting, destroyed others’ property
  • Deceit or theft—broke into house, building, or car; lies, steals items
  • Serious violation of rules—stays out late before age 13, runs away from home, truant before age 13
  • Child onset before age 10 or adolescent onset after age 10

DISRUPTIVE MOOD DYSREGULATION DISORDER (DMDD)

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a childhood condition of extreme irritability, anger, and frequent, intense temper outbursts. DMDD symptoms go beyond being a “moody” child—children with DMDD experience severe impairment that requires clinical attention.

Childhood depressive disorder that is diagnosed in children older than age 6 but younger than age 18.

The features of this disorder are:

  • Chronic dysregulated mood,
  • Frequent temper outbursts, and
  • Severe irritability.

Risk Factors: Complicated psychiatric history including comorbid ADD and ADHD.

Prevention and Screening: Children and adolescents should be screened for a personal and family history of bipolar disorder as symptoms of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder can be like bipolar disorder.

Assessment: Assess for comorbid conditions such as: Bipolar disorder, ODD, ADHD, Depressive and anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

DMDD symptoms typically begin before the age of 10, but the diagnosis is not given to children under 6 or adolescents over 18. A child with DMDD experiences:

  • Irritable or angry mood most of the day, nearly every day
  • Severe temper outbursts (verbal or behavioral) at an average of three or more times per week that are out of keeping with the situation and the child’s developmental level
  • Trouble functioning due to irritability in more than one place (e.g., home, school, with peers)




To be diagnosed with DMDD, a child must have these symptoms steadily for 12 or more months.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.

Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple settings associated with deficits in: Social reciprocity, Nonverbal communication, Developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships.

Restricted repetitive behavior: Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, Insistence on sameness, highly restricted with fixed interests, Hyper- or hypo-sensory input.

Assess for the following:

  • Impairment with social interaction, communications, and behavior
  • Impaired social interactions such as abnormal gaze, posture, and expression in social interactions
  • Lack of peer relationships, emotional reciprocity, and spontaneous seeking of enjoyment
  • Impaired communication, such as a delay or lack in the development of spoken language, impaired ability to initiate and sustain conversations, repetitive and stereotyped use of language, and inability to play with others
  • Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, such as inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines and repetitive, stereotyped motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping, rocking, swaying)

Parents may report any of the following symptoms:

  • No cooing by age 1 year, no single words by age 16 months, no two-word phrases by age 24 months
  • Loss of language skills at any time
  • No imaginary play
  • Little interest in playing with other children
  • Extremely short attention span
  • No response when called by name
  • Little or no eye contact
  • Intense tantrums
  • Fixations on single objects
  • Unusually strong resistance to changes in routines
  • Oversensitivity to certain sounds, textures, or smells
  • Appetite or sleep–rest

Ensure your child receives the best possible care. Call our office today to book your visit with us! (855) 208-0890

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