Childhood Psychopathology Nature and etiology of childhood disorders –Sources of learning problems...

Childhood Psychopathology

• Nature and etiology of childhood disorders– Sources of learning problems and mental

retardation– Teratogens

• 1. Smoking

• 2. LSD

• 3. Ethanol (alcohol)

Childhood Psychopathology

– 4. Caffeine - no convincing evidence– 5. Drugs– 6. Thalidomide– 7. Diethylstibestrol (DES)

Childhood Psychopathology

– 8. Aspirin – possibly– 9. Heavy metals

– Lead, Mercury

– 10. AIDS/HIV

Smoking

• Smoking – 1. CO increase

– Nicotine yields vasoconstriction

– Tar (particular matter of smoke)

» Cyanide

» Lead

» Global toxic elements

• LSD Use– Jacobsen and Berlin (1972)

– 140 women used LSD prior/during pregnancy

– 148 pregnancies yields 83 live births

– Many gross abnormalities

– LSD use in first trimester yields 43% miscarriage

– Of 83 live births, 8 had defects

– Abortions 65 (12 spontaneous, 53 therapeutic)

Ethanol

• Small amount used early in pregnancy can yield problems in development– Drinking more than two drinks per day, more

than one day per week– Drinking five or more drinks per setting

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome first recognized in France in the 1950’s– Later recognized in the United States

Ethanol

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)– 80% of normal size– Decreased intellectual functioning– Behavioral problems– Hippocampal region impact noted on animal

studies– Distinctive appearance

Ethanol

• Distinctive appearance– Narrow eye openings– Flattened grove between upper lip and nose– Up turned nose– Thin upper lip, lack of “cupid’s bow”

Ethanol

• Twelve year follow-up of FAS– 11 children– 2 dead– 4 Borderline IQ– 4 Severe IQ problems

Ethanol

• Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE)– Milder but still demonstrable syndrome

• Alcohol Related Neurological Disease (ARND)

• Ethanol appears to affect the development of the corpus callosum

Other Agents

• Chemical agents - gasoline fumes• Heavy metals

– Definitely Van Halen

– Cadmium

– Lead

– Sources include air, smoke, paint

• Heat - Hot tubs?

Childhood Psychopathology

• Nature and etiology of childhood disorders– Teratogens - More detailed description

• Radiation

• Diet

Childhood Psychopathology

• Nature and etiology of childhood disorders– Teratogens - Other sources

• Toxoplasmosis (parasitic source)

• Spermicidal Foams – Birth defects 2.2 times expected rate

– Miscarriage 1.5 times expected rate

Childhood Psychopathology

• Nature and etiology of childhood disorders– Teratogens - Other sources

• Viral agents– Rubella (German Measles)

– Cytomegaloviri

– Herpes

– Slow viral agents

Childhood Psychopathology

• Nature and etiology of childhood disorders– Teratogens - Other sources

• HIV exposure for mother– Yields HIV+ for child

– Doesn’t always yield AIDS?