Achenbach has identified two factors in behavioural disorders:
• Externalizing Factors
• Internalizing Factors
These disorders must manifest before the age of 18. On the basis of these two factors he classified ****’* disorders in two categories:
• The externalizing disorders or undercontrolled emotions: Behaviours that are disruptive and often aggressive and aversive to others in the child’* environment.
• The Internalizing disorders or over-controlled emotions: Those conditions where the child experiences depression, anxiety, and discomfort that may not be evident to others.
1. Externalizing Disorders:
(a) Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
(b) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
(c) Conduct Disorder.
(а) Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
The two main features of ADHD are:
(i) Inattention (ii) Hyperactivity-impulsivity
Inattention:
• **** who are inattentive find it difficult to sustain mental effort during work or play.
• They have a hard time keeping their minds on any one thing or in following instructions.
Common complaints are that
• The child does not listen, cannot concentrate, does not follow instructions, is disorganized, easily distracted forgetful, does not finish assignments, and is quick to lose interest in boring activities.
• **** who are impulsive, unable to control their immediate reactions or to think before they act.
• They find it difficult to wait or take turns, have difficulty resisting immediate temptations or delaying gratification.
• Minor mishaps such as knocking things are common whereas more serious accidents and injuries can also occur.
•Hyperactivity also takes many forms. **** with ADHD are in constant notion. Sitting still for some time through a lesson is impossible for them.The child may fidget, squirm, climb and run around the room aimlessly.
• Parents and teachers describe them as ‘driven by a motor’, always on the go, and talk a lot.
• Boys are four times more prone for this diagnosis than *****.
(b) ** with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD):**
• Age-inappropriate amounts of stubbornness,
• Irritable, • Defiant, disobedient, and
• Behave in a hostile manner.
Unlike ADHD, the rates of ODD in boys and ***** are not very different.
(c) Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour refer to age-inappropriate actions and attitudes that violate family expectation, societal norms, and the personal or property rights of other.
The behaviours typical of conduct disorder include:
• Aggressive actions that cause or threaten harm to people or animals,
• Non-aggressive conduct that causes property damage,
• Major dishonesty,
• Theft and
• Serious rule violations.
**** show many different types of aggressive behaviour, as—1
• Verbal aggression (i.e., name-calling, swearing),
• Physical aggression (i.e., hitting, fighting),
• Hostile aggression (i.e., directed at inflicting injury to others),
• Proactive aggression (i.e., dominating and bullying others without provocation).
2. Internalizing disorders
(a) Separation Anxiety Disorder ( SAD) (b) Depression
(a) Separation anxiety disorder is an internalizing disorder unique to ****. Its most prominent symptom is—
• Excessive anxiety or even panic experienced by **** at being separated from their parents.
• Have difficulty being in a room by themselves, going to school alone, are fearful of entering new situations, and cling to and shadow their parents’ every move.
• To avoid separation, **** with SAD may fuss, scream, throw severe tantrums, or make suicidal gestures.
(b) Depression:
• An infant may show sadness by being passive and unresponsive; a preschooler may appear withdrawn and inhibited; a school-age child may be argumentative and combative; and a**teenager** may express feelings of guilt and hopelessness.
