COSIG CONFERENCE BROCHURE.pdf - Drexel University College ...

COSIG Co-Occurring Disorders Conference, Hershey PA, May 15-17, 2006
Overview
Improving the Long Term Outcome of
Individuals with
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Paula J. Lockhart, MD
The Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Over 94% of individuals with FASD have mental health
problems (Stressguth et al, 1996)
• More than likely you probably know someone with
FASD already
• It does make a difference to know that someone is
alcohol exposed because it puts behaviors in
perspective that may have been attributed to another
causes
• It is estimated that 9.1 in 1000 live births have FASD
Introductory Comments
• Leading cause of
preventable behavioral,
cognitive, and social
disability
• Often escapes recognition
by mental health
professionals
• May be one of the most
under treated of the
developmental disabilities
in psychiatry and other
mental health disciplines
Importance of Diagnosing Fetal
Alcohol Exposure in our Patients
• They may qualify for special
services if they are diagnosed
• Is associated with behavioral,
emotional, and cognitive
disability that is often mistaken
for other psychiatric diagnosis
• Alcohol exposure complicates
psychiatric recovery
Importance of Diagnosing Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
early in Our Patients Presenting for mental health
Diagnosis and Treatment
•Can pose on-going therapeutic challenges
• Often require life-long mental health treatment and psychosocial support
•An informed mental health professional can dramatically change life
trajectory
•The earlier the diagnosis is made the better to decrease behavior and
emotional fall-out from the cognitive disability impacting on the environment
Examples of Problems in General
Cognition in Patients with FASD
• “But I wanted to see a rainbow”( 15 y/o girl poured sand down
the bathroom basin which had a clear pipe)
• “I did it because I wanted to!” (4 year y/o after killing the family
dog)
• “I did it because you wouldn’t let me go with my friends”
(smashed a picture window with a brick, he knew a baby was
sleeping underneath)
• “I don’t know why I did it” (stole the “for rent” signs multiple
times at their apartment bldg and then took them all back
dressed as someone else for the reward. Mother had to move
family)
• “But you told me not to let the dog out of the front door.” (after
letting the dog out the back of the house while his parents
were not home)
• “But you never gave me a birthday party” (parent gave
birthday parties every year that her son could not remember
and became aggressive with her every time he brought up the
issue)
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