Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

ESE 380Fall 2009

Some Questions

• Please take one minute to write down what you think of when you hear the terms emotional disorder and behavioral disorder.

The IDEA Definition

• a condition that is accompanied by one or more of the following characteristics over a long time and to a marked degree and that adversely affects a child’s educational performance

An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression

A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems

Additional Criteria

• The term emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless they also meet the other criteria for having an emotional disturbance.

Types of Behaviors

• Externalizing• persistently aggressive or involve acting-

out and non-compliant behaviors• often are characteristics of conduct and

oppositional defiant disorders

• Internalizing• includes withdrawal, depression, anxiety,

obsessions, and compulsions

Major Categories of Emotional and Behavioral Conditions

• Anxiety disorders

• Mood disorders

• Oppositional-defiant disorder

• Conduct disorders

• Schizophrenia

Anxiety Disorders

• Most common childhood disorder• Excessive worry, fear, or uneasiness

• Includes:• Separation anxiety disorder • Generalized anxiety disorder • Phobia • Panic disorder • Obsessive-compulsive disorder • Post-traumatic stress disorder

Mood Disorders• extreme deviation of mood, in either a depressed or an elevated

direction or sometimes in both directions at different times

Includes:• Depression, which affects…o Emotiono Motivationo Physical well-beingo Thoughtso Suicidal ideation

• Bipolar disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• a pattern of negativistic, hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviors

• May include:• loss of temper • Arguments with adults • Irritability • Vindictiveness • Swearing and using obscenities • Blaming others for mistakes and misbehavior, and • Low self-esteem

Conduct Disorder• a persistent pattern of antisocial behavior that

significantly interferes with others’ rights or with schools’ and communities’ behavioral expectations

• Includes:• Aggressive conduct• Property destruction• Deceitfulness or theft• Serious rule violations

Schizophrenia• a disorder in which people typically have two or more of

the following symptoms:• hallucinations• Withdrawal • Delusions • Inability to experience pleasure • Loss of contact with reality• Disorganized speech

• Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is NOT Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder

The Criticisms

• Working with a partner or small group, please identify 3 concerns or criticisms of the IDEA definition of emotional disabilities.

A Long Period of Time?

• What do you think is a “long period of time?”

Marked Degree

• Frequency

• Duration

• Intensity

• Latency

• Topography

How Would You Handle This?

• Andy refuses to follow directions and uses inappropriate language.

• Claudio fights with other students and is always on the defensive

• Erin is sad all the time and does not speak or interact with others.