BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie

4. Autism
Autism (from the Greek word autos, which means self) is a severe
infant disorder of behavior that develops before the age of three. The term
is used to describe many types of mental disorders, but, as originally
named in 1943 by the American child psychologist Leo Kanner, early
infantile autism describes a rare cluster of symptoms. Its incidence is
approximately 1 in 2,500. An autistic child is unable to use language
meaningfully or to process information from the environment. About half
of all autistic children are mute, and those who speak often only repeat
what they have heard. The term autism refers to their vacant, withdrawn
appearance, but its connotation of voluntary detachment is inappropriate.
Other characteristics of autism include an uneven pattern of development,
a fascination with mechanical objects, a ritualistic response to
environmental stimuli, and a resistance to any change in the environment.
Some autistic children have precocious ability, such as mathematical
skills. The cause, prognosis, and treatment of autism are still under study.
Research suggests a genetic defect as the cause of the disorder, which may
be some form of autoimmune disease or degenerative disease of nerve
cells in the brain. The best treatment is special education, stressing
learning in small groups, and strict behavioral control of the child.
Treatment with drugs such as fenfluramine and haloperidol is also being
tested. In general, prognosis is poor for those autistic children who remain
mute past the age of five. Children who speak fare better, and some of
them recover.
5. Phobias
Phobias are excessive fears in specific situations when there is no
real danger or fears that are totally out of proportions. Most of the time the
person with a phobia realizes that his fear is irrational and illogical but he
still feels anxiety. Avoiding the feared situation can only relieve this
anxiety. Most of us are afraid for something; snakes, heights, doctors,
injury or death are the most reported fears. But a fear is different from a
phobia. A fear is usually not diagnosed as a phobia unless it causes big
problems in the person's daily life. An example of this is a person with a
phobia for enclosed places, he/she will notice his/her phobia when he/she
want to use elevators.
There are a number of explanations about how phobias develop.
Some phobias may result from frightening experiences. For example, you
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