Behavior and personality characteristics of children and young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome: a controlled study

• Objective To analyze (1) which behavior and personality characteristics in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are primarily linked to the syndrome and not to mental retardation or being overweight, (2) how early in life such traits appear, and (3) whether current therapies affect behavior. Method Parents of a group of 44 individuals with PWS and of a comparison group were interviewed and completed questionnaires about their children's behavior and personality. Results Individuals with PWS had more behavior problems than those in the comparison group. Some behaviors were specific to PWS. Younger PWS cases had fewer behavior problems than older PWS cases. Treated individuals had approximately the same degree of behavior problems as those untreated, even though a few symptoms occurred at lower rates. Conclusions PWS is associated with behavior correlates that are not related to weight or IQ. In the first few years of life, children with PWS do not demonstrate the characteristic profile of preoccupation with food, ritualism, irritability, temper tantrums, and skin-picking which is typical of older individuals with PWS. Current therapies (including treatment with growth hormone) do not seem to radically affect the behavioral expression of the disorder, even though some problems tended to abate with treatmen

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adolescent

Adult

Age Factors

Behavioral Symptoms

Etiology

Case-Control Studies

Child

Child

Preschool

Cross-Sectional Studies

Female

Humans

Infant

Male

Mental Retardation

Psychology

Obesity

Psychology

Personality

Prader-Willi Syndrome

Psychology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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