Читать книгу Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology - Robert Weis - Страница 78

Developmental psychopathologists are also interested in predicting the course of development. Some psychological problems tend to be developmentally transient; they rarely persist into adolescence or adulthood. For example, elimination disorders (e.g., bed-wetting and soiling) tend to exist only during early childhood.

Other disorders show homotypic continuity—that is, they persist from childhood to adolescence or adulthood relatively unchanged. For example, young children with intellectual disabilities or autism will likely continue to experience these conditions as adults. Although the severity of these problems may decrease over time, these children will likely continue to experience problems with cognitive or social functioning, respectively (Maughan & Rutter, 2010).

Most childhood disorders, however, show heterotypic continuity—that is, children’s symptoms change over time, but their underlying pattern of behavior remains the same. To understand heterotypic continuity, consider Ben, a 6-year-old boy diagnosed with ADHD. Like most young boys with ADHD, Ben’s most salient problem is hyperactivity; he frequently leaves his seat during class, talks with his neighbors, and fidgets with his clothes and belongings. By middle school, however, Ben shows more problems with inattention than hyperactivity. He has difficulty staying focused during class, remembering to complete his homework, and ignoring distractions during exams. As a young adult, Ben continues to experience underlying symptoms of ADHD, but he is most bothered by problems with organization, planning, and prioritizing activities at home and at work. Although Ben’s most immediate symptoms have changed, his underlying problems with attention and inhibition have persisted over time (Barkley, 2016).