Profiles of mental dysontogenesis during age-related crises in children and adolescents with autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disabilities

Context and relevance. There is a view that periods of developmental crisis carry a high risk of psychological dysontogenesis and mental pathology, but this topic is rarely discussed in detail. The paper examines the relationship between manifestations of developmental crises and the presence of psychological dysontogenesis in children and adolescents, and briefly describes the main age-related developmental crises and basic typologies of psychological dysontogenesis. Objective. To examine the specific features of age-related developmental crises in children and adolescents with mental pathology and dysontogenesis. Hypothesis. In transitional periods of development, the interplay between manifestations of the crisis and psychological dysontogenesis intensifies and can lead to a change in the course of age-related crises. Methods and materials. The study employed bibliographic analysis of open-source literature (monographs, textbooks, journal articles, conference proceedings) and clinical case study methods. Results. Analysis of literary sources and clinical cases shows the specific course of age-related crises depending on the type of dysontogenesis / presence of a disorder. Thus, for children with autism spectrum disorders, the first age-related crises — at ages 1 and 3 — are of particular importance: a delay in the formation of the leading activity of intimate-personal communication. For children with intellectual disabilities, much depends on the severity of the impairment, and all age-related crises will proceed differently, up to the absence of some of them in severe forms. For schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the course of age-related crises may present as attenuated disorders, or go unnoticed, or be modified in cases of successful mastery of the leading activity. Conclusions. The applied aspects of theoretical knowledge and materials of empirical research on age-related crises will allow specialists to more effectively carry out the prevention of mental health disorders, differential diagnosis, treatment, and to address the issues of education and support for children and families

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