BEHAVIORAL DISORDER

Behavioral disorders, also known as disruptive

behavioral disorders, are the most common

reasons that parents are told to take their kids

for mental health assessments and treatment.

Behavioral disorders are also common in adults. If

left untreated in childhood, these disorders can

negatively affect a person’s ability to hold a job

and maintain relationships.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL DISORDER?

Behavioral disorder maybe broken down into a

few types which includes:

Anxiety disorders

Disruptive behavioral disorders, example:

ADHD

Dissociative disorders

Emotional disorders

Pervasive developmental disorders

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

According to Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, ADHD is a condition that impairs an

individual’s ability to properly focus and to

control impulsive behaviors, or it may make the

person overactive.

ADHD is more common in boys than it is in girls.

According to the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio

State University, males are two to three times

more likely than females to get ADHD.

ADHD (ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVE DISORDER)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common mental

illness characterized by the inability to concentrate or sit still.

The condition is, of course, more involved than these two

symptoms. However, when people think of ADHD, the image

is of a young child squirming in his seat. The truth is that the

condition manifests itself in ways that differ from one person to

another. Patients are also not always kids.

People who were not diagnosed as children find out about the condition as

adults who have concentration and other related issues.

By understanding the disorder and its symptoms, families may be able to

better cope with an ADHD diagnosis in an adult or child in the household.

EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL DISORDER

An emotional behavioral disorder affects a person’s ability to be

happy, control their emotions and pay attention in school.

According to Gallaudet University, symptoms of an emotional

behavioral disorder include:

Inappropriate action or emotion under normal circumstances

Learning difficulties that are not caused by another health

factors

Difficulties with interpersonal relationships with teachers and

peers

A general feeling of unhappiness or depression

Feeling of fear and anxiety related to personal or school

matters

OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD)

ODD is a behavioral disorder characterized

by hostile, irritable and uncooperative

attitudes in children, according to

Children’s Mental Health Ontario.

Children with ODD may be spiteful or

annoying on purpose, and they

generally direct their negative actions at

authority figures.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is a normal emotion, and all people feel anxiety at some point in

their lives. However, for some people, anxiety may get to a point where

it interferes with their daily lives, causing insomnia and negatively

affecting performance at work or school, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Anxiety disorders involve more than regular anxiety. They are serious

mental health conditions that require treatment. Examples of these types

of mental conditions include:

Post traumatic stress disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Generalized-anxiety disorder

Panic disorder

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

OCD is characterized by fears and irrational

thoughts that lead to obsessions, which, in turn,

cause compulsions, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If you have OCD, you engage in compulsive,

repetitive behavior despite realizing the

negative consequences of or even the

unreasonable nature of your actions.

Performing these repetitive acts does nothing

more than relieve stress temporarily.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Autism is a complex neurobehavioral disorder that includes impairments in social

interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid,

repetitive behaviors.

Children with autism have trouble communicating. They have trouble understanding

what other people think and feel. This makes it very hard for them to express

themselves either with words or through gestures, facial expressions, and touch.

A child with autism who is very sensitive may be greatly troubled -- sometimes even

pained -- by sounds, touches, smells, or sights that seem normal to others.

Children who are autistic may have repetitive, stereotyped body movements such as

rocking, pacing, or hand flapping. They may have unusual responses to people,

attachments to objects, resistance to change in their routines, or aggressive or self-

injurious behavior.

At times they may seem not to notice people, objects, or activities in their surroundings.

Some children with autism may also develop seizures. And in some cases, those

seizures may not occur until adolescence.

Some people with autism are cognitively impaired to a

degree.

In contrast to more typical cognitive impairment, which is characterized

by relatively even delays in all areas of development, people with autism show

uneven skill development. They may have problems in certain areas, especially

the ability to communicate and relate to others. But they may have unusually

developed skills in other areas, such as drawing, creating music, solving math

problems, or memorizing facts. For this reason, they may test higher -- perhaps

even in the average or above-average range -- on nonverbal intelligence tests.

Symptoms of autism typically appears during the first three years of life.

Some children show signs from birth. Others seem to develop normally at first,

only to slip suddenly into symptoms when they are 18 to 36 months old.

However, it is now recognized that some individuals may not show symptoms of

a communication disorder until demands of the environment exceed their

capabilities.

Autism is four times more common in boys than in girls.

WHAT CAUSES OF BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS?

A behavioral disorder can have a variety of causes. According to the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the abnormal behavior

that is usually associated with these disorders can be traced back to

biological, family and school-related factors.

Some biological factors => Physical illness or disabilities,

Malnutrition, Brain damage, Hereditary factors.

Others factors related to individual home’s life => Divorced or

other emotional upset at home, Coercion from parents ,

Unhealthy or inconsistent discipline style, Poor attitude toward

education or schooling.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS OF BEHAVIORAL DISORDER

According to Boston Children’s Hospital, some of the

emotional symptoms of behavioral disorders include:

Easily getting annoyed or nervous

Often appearing angry

Putting blame on others

Refusing to follow the rules or question authority

Arguing and throwing temper tantrums

Having difficulty in handling frustration

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF BEHAVIORAL DISORDER

Unlike other types of health issues, a behavioral

disorder will have mostly emotional

symptoms, with physical symptoms such as a

fever, rash, or headache being absent.

However, sometimes people suffering from a

behavioral disorder will develop a substance

abuse problem, which could show physical

symptoms such as burnt fingertips, shaking or

bloodshot eyes

SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF BEHAVIORAL DISORDER

If left untreated, a behavioral disorder may have negative short-term and

long-term effects on an individual’s personal and professional life.

People may get into trouble for acting out, such as face suspension or

expulsion for fighting, bullying or arguing with authority figures. Adults may

eventually lose their jobs. Marriages can fall apart due to prolonged

strained relationships, while children may have to switch schools and then

eventually run out of options.

According to Healthy Children.org , the most serious actions a person with

a behavioral disorder may engage in include starting fights, abusing

animals and threatening to use a weapon on others.

The earlier a behavioral disorder is diagnosed and properly treated, the

more likely it is that a child or adult suffering from it will be able to control

their behavior

IS THERE A TEST OR SELF-ASSESSMENT I CAN DO?

Mental health professionals and treatment centers can evaluate people

to determine if they a behavioral disorder.

Tests called functional behavioral assessments offer problem-solving

help to address behavioral problems in students.

According to Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice, these

assessments are based on many techniques and strategies for

identifying problem behaviors.

Individualized educational program teams use these assessments to

choose interventions that address specific behavioral problems.

These teams are involved in the education of students, and they may

include parents and teachers.

BEHAVIORAL DRUGS : POSSIBLE OPTIONS

Many drugs are available for behavioral problems, and the type of drug that

will be prescribed depends on the specific condition being treated. The

Positive Environments Network of Trainers of the California Department of

Education lists Ritalin and Dexedrine as short-acting medications for the

treatment of ADHD. They may help a child focus better, reduce impulsive

behavior and reduce motor restlessness. Some professionals recommend

Wellbutrin as a primary ADHD treatment.

People with an anxiety disorder, OCD or ADHD may benefit from

antidepressants, including Paxil, Tofranil, Anafranil, Prozac, Luvox, Celexa,

Zoloft and Norpramin. Other medications that may help include Daytrana,

Biphetamine, Dexedrine, Adderall XR and Strattera. These medications are

aimed at decreasing impulsivity, reducing hyperactivity, decreasing

obsessive-compulsive actions and reducing feelings of depression.

MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS

Medications for behavioral disorders may have side

effects. They can increase emotional issues, increase

suicidal thoughts and aggravate seizure conditions. Some

of the possible side effects include:

Insomnia

Appetite reduction

Tremors

Depression

Abnormal heart rhythms

CAUSE

The myths surrounding ADHD often begin with the origins of the

condition. Many people believe that children contract the disorder from

eating too much sugar or watching too much television. In truth, the only

thing that seems clear about the condition is that it is hereditary and

develops in childhood. Properly diagnosed adults can pinpoint the

symptoms in their own childhood that were left undiagnosed. The

condition is now most commonly diagnosed in childhood, particularly in

boys.

Another myth is that ADHD is caused by other mental health conditions.

While the disorder may coexist with depression or bipolar disorder, there

is little evidence that the coexisting condition caused the ADHD. The

condition can appear as a lone psychiatric problem. However, this is

usually not the case.

SYMPTOMS

ADHD symptoms can make patients appear to be flaky adults, unruly children,

shopaholics and procrastinators. Other mislabels for ADHD sufferers include

procrastinators, impulsives, quitters and fidgeters. The primary symptoms of the

disorder, which can include:

Being easily distracted

Focus and concentration difficulties

Task completion problem

Day dreaming

Squirming

Being talkative

Trouble sitting or stand still

Moving and touching things constantly

Being easily bored

Difficulties listening to and following instruction

Impatient

Interruptive speaking

Difficulty staying on topic or on task

SYMPTOMS

People who have ADHD have their own collection of these symptoms that

may end up disrupting their daily lives. The key to remember is that no one

will have every symptom, so your ADHD diagnosis may reflect that you are

a dreamer who is impatient and impulsive, but you may not be hyperactive.

This is perfectly acceptable. Identifying these symptoms in a person is the

most important thing. Because there are so many ways to misinterpret the

symptoms and to make a diagnosis, only a doctor should do so. Just

remember that hyperactivity is not the predominant symptom for the

disorder. In fact, most adult patients were missed as kids because they were

quiet children who did not disrupt class. However, as adults, their symptom

combinations created a need to seek

TREATMENT

Medication is often thought to be the first line of defense for treating ADHD,

but this is not true. Some patients use a therapy and medication combination,

and others use no medication at all. The only way to treat the conditions is to

identify the primary complaint for the ADHD sufferer. There are three

categories of ADHD patients:

1. Hyperactive-impulsive patients have most of the classic ADHD

symptoms, but those symptoms are related to the hyperactivity. These

patients are fidgety, impatient, talkative and have trouble focusing, for

example.

2. Inattentive patients primarily have symptoms that center on the

inability to pay attention. They can’t focus, concentrate, follow instructions and

often change topics, for example.

3. The third category is a combination of the first two. Their symptoms

span the ADHD symptom board with no predominant leader.

TREATMENT

Treatment for the disorders also includes occupational therapy

for those who need it. Patients who suffer from a coexisting

condition also get treatment for that disorder. Bipolar disorder is

a common co-diagnosis that is treated with medications that

also treat the ADHD. Therapies are designed to treat both

conditions.

ADHD patients may try several combinations of treatments to

alleviate symptoms before an effective one is found. Contrary to

belief, there is no cure for the disorder and kids do not grow out

of it. Many kids may find themselves seeking additional

treatment as adults. Others may find ways to cope on their own.

ADHD SURPRISES

It is a little-known fact that most ADHD sufferers are creative types. In fact,

there are several celebrities that suffer from the mental condition. Justin

Timberlake (singer, actor and producer) is one example.

There is evidence of high rates of ADHD among drug users. The drugs are

used to slow down the thought processes so that the patient can function.

However, drugs come with complications of their own, which can be hard on

the impatient, impulsive, inattentive ADHD patient. Rehab takes time, a

concept that many with ADHD have issues with.

ADHD may be complicated by food sensitivities and allergies. For this reason,

nutritional services are often provided to children and families touched by the

condition.

BEHAVIORAL DISORDER RESEARCH

Abstract

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has recently been receiving more

frequent attention in professional circles and in the press, and some sources would

assert that its occurrence in the general population is consistently growing. Because

music therapists often work with preschool and school-age children, it is likely that they

will increasingly be treating children with a diagnosis of ADHD. However, there is little in

the music therapy literature about music therapy treatment for ADHD. The purpose of

this survey was to ascertain what music therapy methods are being used for children

with an ADHD diagnosis, how effective this treatment is perceived to be, and the role

that music therapy treatment plays in relation to other forms of treatment. Results of the

survey indicated that music therapists often utilize a number of music therapy methods

in the treatment of children with ADHD. They often address multiple types of goals, and

treatment outcome is generally perceived to be favorable. Referrals for music therapy

services are received from a number of different sources, although parents and

teachers were indicated to be the most frequent referral sources. Most children with

ADHD receiving music therapy services also receive other forms of treatment, with an

overwhelming majority receiving medication.

ADHD BOY

ADHD BOY