Conduct Disorder
Learning disorders are diagnosed when the individual’s academic achievement in reading, mathematics, or writing is substantially below what would be expected for age, schooling and intellectual ability
Treatment is limited and basically school focused and aims at obtaining occupational self-sufficiency
Learning Disorders
Reading disorders
Reading skills significantly below expectancy
Significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities requiring reading skills
Mathematics disorders
Mathematics skills significantly below expectancy
Significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities requiring mathematics skills
Disorder of written expression
Writing skills significantly below expectancy
Significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities requiring writing skills
Management of Conduct disorder
Conduct disorders require “psychological management”
Family should always be involved and attempt should be made to help the family to provide consistent upbringing
Behaviour modification with positive reinforcement
“Medication” may be needed to control aggressiveness or hyperactivity.
— Haloperidol in small doses & mood stabilizers like Carbamazepine may be helpful.
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Also called Pervasive developmental disorders.
Includes Childhood Autism, Asperger’s disorder, Rett’s syndrome etc
Is characterized by significant problems in three domains of:
Communication
Social interactions
Stereotyped patterns of behaviour
Associated with hyperactivity, Self injurious behaviour, epilepsy (in 25% cases), and
low IQ (<70 in 75% cases)
Idiot savants/splinters
High functioning autism
Autism
Clinical features:
Marked impairment in the use of non-verbal behaviours
A decrease or lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment,interests, or achievements with other people
Decreased or lack of social or emotional reciprocity
Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to develop. level
Delay or total lack of development of spoken language
Stereotyped or repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
Lack of spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play
Treatment of Autism:
Behavioural, psychotherapeutic as well as pharmacologic approaches
There is no cure for the core disorder
The goal of treatment is to lessen symptoms as well as to help the individual achieve the maximally feasible quality of life
