Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorder Paper

Samantha Craig

Psy/410

6/23/2016

Introduction

When it comes to the human body, there are many things that can affect it such as neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive disorders. While both of these disorders take place within the brain, they each have their various characteristics. Neurodevelopmental disorders are "group of disorders that can include developmental brain dysfunction, which can manifest as neuropsychiatric problems or impaired motor function, learning, language or non-verbal communication." (Nature, 2016) While the neurocognitive disorder is where there is a loss of neural cells that result in a form of brain damage. This paper will cover two disorders the first is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which is a Neurodevelopmental disorder and Alzheimer's disease that belongs to the Neurocognitive disorder.

Behavioral Criteria for ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder "is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development." (NIMH, 2016) This particular disorder is usually diagnosed within early childhood stages "hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age seven years." (Behavenet, 2016) However, it can manifest late into adolescence or even adulthood. There are many different symptoms that accompany ADHD however, the more typical and well-known ones would be hyperactivity – impulsivity and, lack of attention span.

One of the biggest signs of is the inability to sustain attention on tasks that provide little to no interests for an individual. Those who suffer from this disorder also have social problems finding it difficult to make and keep friendships for an extended period. They would also find it difficult to follow directions and listen when directly talked to. In this category, they also end up forgetting daily activities such as chores and usually look for ways to get out of doing things that require a significant amount of mental work.

The second and third signs are hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These both are labeled together in the DSM-5. In the hyperactivity portion, it usually refers to the fact that the child constantly feels the need to move whether it be through fidgeting, running around, climbing and walking around when it is inappropriate to do such as in a classroom. Another problem is the fact that those who suffer this part of the ADHD are excessively talkative and does so at a very abnormal fast pace. Under the impulsivity the behaviors that might show up would be the inability to wait their turn, interrupting others as they talk or reply to questions without them being fully asked.

Incidence Rates and Causes of ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder like many others before it do not have a clear cause as to how or why, and individual gets it. There are however many clues that point to factors such as environmental and genetics as a point of origin. When ADHD is looked at many, have found that genes might play a role in this disorder based on many relatives who share the same problem or similar characteristics of the disorder. When it comes to the environmental effects, there are many factors to look into. This can be a learned trait due to a parent who is usually on the go and trying to keep the children busy so that they are not bored. This can then cause the child to feel fidgety and restless. Another part is the possibility that the child either during the mother's pregnancy or at a young age was exposed to a certain amount of toxins such as lead. According to (Holland & Riley, 2014) "6.4 million American Children ages, four to seventeen have been diagnosed with ADHD and within eight years the diagnoses increased up to forty-two percent."

Two theoretical model therapy treatments for ADHD

Since ADHD is a behavioral disorder, one treatment might be Cognitive Behavioral Interventions. This particular plan involves the individual a way to make and learn cues that help them control their impulsivity and hyperactive behaviors. These people are seen a couple of times a week and receive help because if they are in the middle of class and know the answer they are more likely to blurt out an answer halfway through the question without raising their hand. This therapy helps them learn okay instead of doing this and have the urge to do yell the answer I need to say quit and that would be their cue to stop what they are doing and raise their hand instead.

The second form of a theoretical therapy treatments would be medications. This disorder has something to do with chemicals in the brain and to find that balance there are multiple types of pharmaceuticals available that can help curb some if not all of the symptoms of ADHD. The reason there are so many has to deal with the fact that there are usually other underlining mental disorders. In medication "can be quick-acting (within 30 minutes) and short lasting (four to six hours) or longer lasting (eight to 12 hours)" (myadhd, 2016)

Behavior Criteria for Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is a "Progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain." (Butcher, Hooley, & Mineka, 2014) As with many diseases and disorders, there are signs of progression. This particular disease has different stages and the further it goes, the more the person forgets such as family, children, places and memories that have been made through their life span. The individual may also have behavior disorders and lose language motor skills to where living independently is no longer an option for that person.

The first response criteria for Alzheimer disease is the one many people know, and that is memory impairment. This cognitive deficiency is seen towards the beginning of the illness and gradually gets worse, in this stage, it is also referred to as dementia. The individuals ability to learn new skills and information is limited and it is also where the capacity to recall previous memories or information as well. During this particular stage, the person might also find slight difficulty in not recognizing individual objects, problems with language skills and some disturbances in how the plan and organize things which then causes problems socially and occupationally. Once these behaviors begin them, gradually become worse in which that person is no longer capable of being alone and relies on help. This is due to them no longer recognizing family members, being found wandering around with no sense of where they are going or where they live, and no longer able to do daily behaviors. Those who have Alzheimer's also tend to become aggressive and even more so if they lose the ability to speak or move like they used to.

Incidence Rates and Causes of Alzheimer's disease

While Alzheimer Disease is due to a progressive failure in the brains cells the exact cause to why this occurs in not truly known. There is not one single factor that contributes to why this happens. However, with years of studying this disease scientist have noticed that genetics, and age. It has shown through time that an individual who has an extensive family history of Alzheimer's it is more likely that they would have it in the future as well because of genes being passed down to each other. Age also has a huge factor in this disease, even though it can occur in someone who is in their thirties or forties, it is usually seen in older adults around the age of sixty and gets worse each year after that. According to (Alz, 2016) "more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer's." Many of the individuals in this estimation are over the age of 65 and end up dying because of this disease.

Two theoretical model therapy treatments for Alzheimer's

The first treatment to be considered is called the psychosocial intervention. When a person has Alzheimer's, they can become depressed, closed off and tend not to be able to perform everyday tasks that they used to do to poor memory. This treatment provides the individual with a sense of self by giving them some amount of physical and mental exercises that work the brain, and activity programs that can be provided by the caregiver. This then allows the person to have a feeling of independence and can slow the process of how fast the disease takes control.

The second form of treatment that can take place is pharmaceuticals or also known as medications. Due to Alzheimer's being a neurocognitive disorder and can impair cognitive functions and functional decline medication can be used to help slow down that pace just a little. "Medications called cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease." (nia, 2016) While a drug by the name of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, is for those individuals who are going from moderate to severe. However, just like with all medications there are certain side effects that could worsen such as an increase in stroke and heart attacks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to Neurodevelopmental and Neurocognitive Disorders the two most common conditions that are known all around the world would be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Although both of these disorders have some unknown causes they also end up having an enormous impact on how the person affect handles daily activities. Each one of these impact about 11.4 million individual's lives and is adding more every day. There are treatments available from medications, psychosocial interventions, and cognitive behavioral interventions.

References

Holland, K., & Riley, E. (2014, September). ADHD by the Numbers: Facts, Statistics, and You. Health Line, (), . Retrieved from

Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S., & Hooley, J. M. (2014) Abnormal psychology (16th Ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix ebook Collection Database.