title: A survey of the prevalence of stereotypy, self-injury and aggression in children and young adults with Cri du Chat syndrome.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and frequency of stereotypy, self-injurious behaviour (SIB), and aggression in children and adults with Cri du Chat syndrome (CCS), and to investigate the relationship between SIB, aggressive behaviour and stereotypy in these individuals. Sixty-six families of children and adults diagnosed with CCS completed the Behaviour Problems Inventory. Additional information relating to gender, chronological age, type of school/post-school occupation and medication was also included in the survey. Stereotyped behaviour was reported for 82% of subjects, more than half the sample displaying it on a daily basis. The occurrence percentage of 15 topographies of SIB suggested that head banging, hitting the head against body parts, self-biting and rumination are the most frequently occurring behaviours in CCS. Aggressive behaviour was reported for 88%, with a statistically significant negative correlation between age and the number of aggressive behaviours reported. The present findings suggest that specific types of stereotypy and SIB are observed frequently in CCS.
authors.affiliation: North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, Department of Clinical Psychology, Muckamore Abbey Hospital, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: M S Ross
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cornish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003410:Cri-du-Chat Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires