Behavior Disorders

Behavior Disorders (Emotional Disturbance Pg 207-210)

I. Facts:

* Behavior disorders include mental health problems with a focus on behaviors that both identify emotional problems and create interpersonal and social problems for children and adolescents in the course of their development.

* Currently, students with such disorders are categorized as having a serious emotional disturbance, which is defined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Law 101-476, as follows:

"...a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects educational performance--

A. An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors;

B. An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers;

C. Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances;

D. A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; or

E. A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems."

As defined by the IDEA, serious emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have a serious emotional disturbance.

* Two basic patterns that children display:

Externalizing- Students are often aggressive, uncooperative, restless, and negativistic. Tend to lie, steal,

defy teachers, and be hostile to authority figures. Sometimes are cruel and malicious.

Internalizing- Students are typically shy, timid, anxious, and fearful. Often depressed and lack self-

confidence)

II. What Causes These Behaviors?

* There are two main causes of behavior disorders:

1. Physiological - The child has a physical disability that causes dysfunctional behavior. Some children are mentally ill because of a birth defect, or become brain damaged as a result of an accident or illness.

2. Environmental - The child's behavior is learned as a response to dysfunctional behavior of others in his environment. If a child does not have physiological damage, then the behavior problems are learned.

III. Types:

1. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD):

* Facts: Psychiatric disorder that is characterized by two different sets of problems. These are aggressiveness and a tendency to purposefully bother and irritate others. Can be present with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression, Tourette's, Anxiety disorders, or other neuropsychiatric disorders. It is rare for children to have this disorder unaccompanied.

* Characteristics:

• Often loses temper

• Often argues with adults

• Often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules

• Often deliberately annoys people

• Often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior

• Is often touchy or easily annoyed by others

• Is often angry and resentful

• Is often spiteful and vindictive

2. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

*Facts: Most commonly diagnosed disorder among children. Found more in boys than in girls.

* Characteristics:

• inattention

• hyperactivity

• impulsivity

3. Conduct Disorder (CD):

* Facts: In some ways, conduct disorder is just a worse version of ODD. However recent research suggests that there are some differences. Children with ODD seem to have worse social skills than those with CD. Children with ODD seem to do better in school. Conduct disorder is the most serious childhood psychiatric disorder.