Hyperactivity and the fragile X syndrome.
Workers who have claimed an association between Fragile X [fra(x)] Syndrome and Hyperactivity and aggressive behavior have done so despite the lack of controlled studies using standard diagnostic criteria. Accordingly, we provided a controlled test of the hypothesis that individuals with the fra(x) Syndrome are more hyperactive and have more symptoms of aggression than other mentally retarded individuals. The test formed part of a study to assess autistic behavior in fra(x) individuals. A sample of fra(x) individuals was obtained from the register of a clinical genetics unit and individually matched for age, sex, and IQ with mentally retarded individuals selected from assessment centres. Forty-five pairs of fra(x) cases and control individuals were compared on criteria which reflected DSM-III concepts of hyperactivity and on criteria reflecting aggressive behavior. The comparison failed to find a higher prevalence of these symptoms in the fra(x) group. An analysis of the study's statistical power suggested that it is unlikely that the investigation failed to detect a large to medium difference between fra(x) individuals and control individuals in the symptoms investigated.
Einfeld
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney, Australia.
Hall
W
W
Levy
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors