Characterising repetitive behaviours in young boys with fragile X syndrome

Abstract

Background Repetitive behaviours are frequently observed in individuals with intellectual disability. The present study examined the profile, inter-correlations, and predictive correlates of repetitive behaviours in males with FXS, the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability. Specific child characteristics examined as predictors included: anxiety, nonverbal cognition, and autism social-affective symptomatology. Method Participants were 39 boys with FXS (aged 6–10 years). Repetitive behaviours were measured using the Repetitive Behavior Scale – Revised (RBS-R) – a 43-item caregiver-report measure normed on individuals with intellectual disability. Results Restricted Interests and Sensory Motor behaviours were reported as most problematic for this sample of boys, whereas Self-injurious behaviours were less problematic. All subscales of the RBS-R were significantly inter-correlated. Nonverbal IQ was negatively related, whereas anxiety and social affective symptoms of ASD were positively related, to scores for Restricted Interests. Anxiety was also positively related to scores for Compulsive behaviours and Ritualistic Sameness behaviours. Conclusions This study provides a preliminary description of repetitive behaviours in males with FXS, which may form the groundwork for future research.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms in Infants with Fragile X Syndrome: A Prospective Case Series

“…Alternatively, motor abnormalities in FXS could represent complex relationships, with lower order and repetitive motor movements (e.g., body rocking, hand flapping) present in FXS independent of ASD and higher order motor and repetitive features representing a unique marker for ASD in FXS. These relationships may differ qualitatively from those with idiopathic (non-FXS) ASD or may reflect developmental factors (Oakes, Thurman, McDuffie, Bullard, Hagerman, & Abbeduto, 2016; Wolff, Bodfish, Hazlett, Lightbody, Reiss, & Piven, 2012). This is supported by evidence from our group that atypical motor behavior and poor motor control (e.g., hand flapping, body rocking, finger posturing) were present in 80% of 12-month-old infants with FXS, a rate that was elevated in contrast to just 20% of high-risk siblings of children with ASD [BLINDED].…”

Autism Symptomatology in Boys with Fragile X Syndrome: A Cross Sectional Developmental Trajectories Comparison with Nonsyndromic Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Our data provide additional support for this premise and reveal that a similar pattern is observed for males with FXS. It is important to note, however, that previous research suggests that the relationship between nonverbal cognition and restricted and repetitive behaviors may vary as function of the type of repetitive behavior being considered (e.g., insistence on sameness vs restricted interests; Bishop et al, 2006; Oakes et al, 2014). In the current study, we considered domain level scores and did not consider the impact of individual categories of repetitive behaviors.…”

Caries experience and salivary aspects in individuals with fragile X syndrome

“…Common behavioral and systemic changes include the following: the presence of seizures, mental retardation, autism spectrum disorder (e.g., poor eye contact, speech, sensory hypersensitivity, and stereotyped or repetitive motor behaviors) 8 and hyperactivity disorder.…”

“…10 Mental deficiency and behavioral characteristics are factors that hinder the dental care for these patients because cog nitive deficits, autism, hyperactivity and anxiety disorders may require multidisciplinary attention. 8,11 In this way, patients with various syndromes, particularly those who experience neuropsychomotor development delay, can be considered at high risk for tooth decay and other oral diseases. 10,12,13 Oral condition studies and studies on dental treatment characteristics of patients with FXS are rare, so it is believed that the dental needs of these patients have not been met, are related to poor hygiene, and are reinforced by salivary characteristics, the socioeconomic means of the patients, and the use of controlled drugs, such as anticonvulsants and antianxiety drugs, which cause hyposalivation and predispose the patient to oral diseases.…”