Change in Behavior Problems from Childhood Through Adolescence for Children with Fragile X Syndrome

Abstract

In this study, we examined trajectories of specific domains of behavior problems (i.e., attention problems, depression/anxiety, and aggressive behavior) from age 6 to 18 in a sample of 55 children with fragile X syndrome. We also examined autism status and early parenting as predictors of subsequent behavioral trajectories. We found that attention problems and aggressive behavior declined steadily from childhood through adolescence whereas anxious/depressed behavior demonstrated relative stability over the same period. Youth with highly flexible mothers displayed more optional trajectories of improvement in attention problems.

Behavior Problems and Social Competence in Fragile X Syndrome: A Systematic Review

“…The percentages of this behavior in the clinical range across studies varied from 15 to 73.5% in boys, as the table shows. The lowest percentages in the clinical range corresponded to the samples with the highest age range [ 77 , 78 ]. Furthermore, almost all the boys with FXS aged between 5.7 and 16.1 years were inattentive and easily distracted (98–100%, respectively), followed by over-active and impulsive [ 79 ].…”

“…Less prevalent behavior problems of clinical concern for individuals aged between 4 and 12 years were thought problems and withdrawn and aggressive behavior problems in girls, withdrawn and aggressive behavior in boys [ 66 ], and aggressive behavior in boys and girls at 6 years [ 78 ]. Depression problems were the least reported psychiatric concern, and their prevalence was very low in children and low in adolescents (1.2–16%, respectively) [ 63 ], although these percentages were slightly higher in other studies [ 73 , 78 ].…”

“…Some studies have found decreasing trajectories of behavior problems such as physical aggression and tantrum scores until age 19 years, although they were not associated with age after this point [ 83 ]. The prevalence and severity of aggression also declined from 40% to 20% and 30% to 10% in boys aged between 11 and 12 years and 17 and 18 years [ 80 ], respectively, and a decreased proportion of aggressive behaviors in the clinical range was found from age 6 to 18 years in boys and girls [ 78 ]. Moreover, self-injury frequency was lower in boys aged between 17 and 18 years than in the age group 11–12 years [ 80 ], and boys and girls showed decreased percentages of attention problems in the clinical range from age 6 to 18 years [ 78 ].…”

“…The prevalence and severity of aggression also declined from 40% to 20% and 30% to 10% in boys aged between 11 and 12 years and 17 and 18 years [ 80 ], respectively, and a decreased proportion of aggressive behaviors in the clinical range was found from age 6 to 18 years in boys and girls [ 78 ]. Moreover, self-injury frequency was lower in boys aged between 17 and 18 years than in the age group 11–12 years [ 80 ], and boys and girls showed decreased percentages of attention problems in the clinical range from age 6 to 18 years [ 78 ]. Furthermore, higher rates of total behavior problems were found in both children and adolescents than in adults [ 84 ].…”

“…Trajectories of behavioral problems were affected by ASD comorbidity in two longitudinal studies. Decreases in attention problems and aggressive behaviors in individuals aged between 6 and 18 years were smaller for those with autism comorbidity than those with FXS only [ 78 ]. Moreover, in individuals aged between 6 and 54 years, impulsivity and repetitive questioning scores decreased only for the group with low levels of autistic symptomatology, and not for the comorbid FXS+ASD group [ 88 ].…”