Common Disorders
 

Click on an item from the list below, to page down to that topic.  Following each disorder are on-line resources for parents.

  1. Anxiety disorders

  2. Attachment Disorder/Reactive Attachment Disorder

  3. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

  4. Autism spectrum disorder or autism

  5. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness)

  6. Conduct disorder

  7. Major Depression

  8. Developmental Disabilities

  9. Eating disorders

  10. Learning disorders

  11. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  12. Post Traumatic Stress Disorders

  13. Schizophrenia

  14. Sexual Addiction

  15. General Parenting and Mental Health Resources

The following are descriptions of some of the mental, emotional, and behavioral problems that can occur during childhood and adolescence. All of these disorders can have a serious impact on a child's overall health.

Some disorders are more common than others, and conditions can range from mild to severe. Often, a child can have more than one disorder.

Anxiety disorders

These are among the most common of childhood disorders. These young people experience excessive fear, worry, or uneasiness that interferes with their daily lives.

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Attachment Disorder/Reactive Attachment Disorder

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), sometimes referred to as Attachment Disorder, usually begins before age five.  With RAD a child’s social relatedness is markedly disturbed (fails to interact in many situations) and/or is developmentally inappropriate (does not discriminate in the interaction).  For such a diagnosis there must be evidence of caregiver emotional or physical neglect, or repeated changes of caregivers. 

Resources:

  • radkid.org
    Find information, ideas, and support for parents and caregivers of children with RAD.
  • www.attach.org
    ATTACH: Association for the Treatment and Training in Attachment of Children.  International coalition of professional and lay persons who are involved with children who have attachment disorders.  Includes a list of member therapists and treatment centers.
  • www.attachmentdisorder.net
    The Attachment Disorder Site.  Information and resources for parents and caregivers of children with Attachment Disorder.  Find information about the effects of RAD on children and adults, some suggestions on dealing with school and teachers, as well as adoption information.  
  • members.tripod.com/~radclass
    Reactive Attachment Disorder-It’s Time to Understand.  A self-guided audio primer for the understanding and treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder, with speaker’s notes to read along.
  • www.olderchildadoption.com/rad/
    Info about attachment and bonding with older child adoptions.
  • www.toddlertime.com/dx/rad/index.htm
    Essays on Reactive Attachment Disorder.
  • aboutourkids.org/articles/about_attachment.html

Back to Top of Page

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

A young person with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is unable to focus attention, is often impulsive and easily distracted. Most children with this disorder have great difficulty remaining still, taking turns, and keeping quiet.

Resources:

  • www.help4adhd.org/news1.cfm

  • www.nichcy.org
    Click on Publications and do a search for Attention Deficit.  Find the Briefing Paper, FS14, 3rd Edition, April 2002.  It is very comprehensive, including: Understanding & Diagnosing AD/HD; Treatment Recommendations; School Issues & Interventions; Meeting the Challenge; References; Resources; and Publishers

  • www.chadd.org
    CHADD (Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

  • www.add.org
    ADDA (National Attention Deficit Disorder Association)

  • www.ldanatl.org
    Learning Disabilities Association

  • www.parentsanonymous.org
    Parents Anonymous

Back to Top of Page

Autism, Asperger Syndrome, PDD

Autism, Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder are developmental disabilities that share many of the same characteristics.  These disabilities fall under an umbrella category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  They are neurological disorders that affect a child’s ability to communicate, understand language, play and relate to others.  Impairment may range from mild to severe.  Children with ASD are at increased risk for other mental disorders.

Resources:

  • www.waisman.wisc.edu/connections
    Waisman Center Connections: Wisconsin Community of Practice on Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities (CoP ASD/DD).  A portal to various online resources.

  • www.autism-society.org
    Autism Society of America

  • www.asw4autism.org
    Autism Society of Wisconsin (At the Madison Site there is an excellent Resource Directory which Donna Rosinski updates annually.)

  • www.familyvillage.wisc.edu
    The Family Village Project, coordinated by Linda Rowley at the Waisman Center. Great starting place to explore information on autism and related disabilities.

  • www.autism.com/ari
    Autism Research Institute

  • www.transmil.nl/alp
    Autism Resources

  • www.naar.org
    Autism Research

  • www.tonyattwood.com.au
    Asperger’s Syndrome

  • www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/sped
    Site to find Next Steps Booklet containing six articles by autism consultant Susan Stokes and Special Education in Plain Language, developed by Wisconsin DPI.  Explains the law in layman’s terms and warns parents of common errors for which to watch.

  • www.highscope.org
    High Scope Educational Research Foundation

  • www.socialthinking.com

  • www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger
    Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS)

  • www.ani.ac
    Autism Network International.  R    un by and for individuals with ASD; focus on self-advocacy.

  • www.eparent.com
    Exceptional Parent Magazine
    autism.about.com/library/weekly/aa052802a.htm
    About Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders

  • www.dttrainer.com
    Software for home or school use for children ages two through eight. The home price is $99, and the school price is $249.  If you can’t hire ABA therapists in your area, or want ot supplement your therapy, or simply can’t tolerate people traipsing in and out of your home, you may want to try this.  (credit Donna Rosinski ’s Directory of Resources for People with Autism, Updated August, 2003)

  • home.doitnow.com/~subs (or email: subs@doitnow.com)
    Subscribe to the Schafer Autism Report, delivered fresh daily to your Email-box.  No cost!

  • www.sensoryint.com/
    Sensory Integration International

Back to Top of Page

Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness)

In children and adolescents it is marked by exaggerated mood swings between extreme lows (depression) and highs (excited or manic phases).

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Conduct disorder

Children and adolescents act out their feelings or impulses toward others in destructive ways. Youth with conduct disorder repeatedly violate the basic rights of others and the rules of society.

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Major depression

Years ago many people believed that major depression did not occur in childhood. But we now know that the disorder can occur at any age. Depression is recognized more and more in young people. Some adolescents or even elementary school children with depression may not place any value on their own lives, which may lead to suicide.

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Developmental Disabilities

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Eating disorders

A young person with anorexia nervosa, for example, cannot be persuaded to maintain a minimally normal body weight. This child or adolescent is intensely afraid of gaining weight and doesn't believe that he or she is under weight. Youth with bulimia nervosa feel compelled to binge (eat huge amounts of food at a time and then purge). These disorders can be life threatening.

Back to Top of Page

Learning disorders

The ability of children and adolescents to receive or express information is affected. These problems can show up as difficulties with written and spoken languages, coordination, attention, or self-control. Such difficulties can make it harder for a child to learn to read, write, or do math.

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a potentially disabling anxiety disorder that can interfere with normal routine, academic functioning, social activities or relationships throughout a person’s life.    Obsessions are recurrent, unwanted, irrational and persistent thoughts or impulses.  Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or rituals.  Approximately one million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from OCD.   OCD can co-exist with other disorders making it difficult sometimes to diagnose.

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Post Traumatic Stress Disorders

Most often, PTSD occurs after a serious threat to one's life or the life of a loved one, or following a sudden and traumatic loss, such as of one's home. PTSD has been caused by such varied stressors as violent assault, rape, tornadoes, earthquakes, airplane crashes, torture, fires, kidnapping or severe car accidents. It can also be caused by a sudden life-threatening illness.

Also, we now know that you don't have to be direct victim of one of these traumas to experience PTSD. Sometimes, family members or friends of victims are so traumatized by witnessing or learning about the stressful event happening to a loved one, that they develop the symptoms as well. 

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

Schizophrenia

This can be a devastating mental disorder. Young people with schizophrenia have psychotic periods when they may have hallucinations (sense things that do not exist, such as hearing voices), withdraw from others, and lose contact with reality.

Resources:

  • www.narsad.org
    National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression

Back to Top of Page

Sexual Addiction

Resources:

Back to Top of Page

General Parenting and Mental Health Resources

[Home] • [Treatment / Support] • [FAQ] • [Back to Top of Page]

[Other Resources] • [WFT Staff] • [ Newsletter]

For more information, contact: info@wifamilyties.org
Copyright © 1999

http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/z7N2A/hash/5u84f48n.png

[Back to Top]

[Home] • [Common Disorders] • [Treatment/Support]
[WFT Newsletter] • [Events] • [Other Resources]
[WFT FAQ] • [GAIN-SS]