title: Behavioural phenotype in foetal alcohol syndrome and foetal alcohol effects.
abstract: A sample of 12 children (seven males, five females; mean age 6 years 7 months, SD 2 years 6 months, range 2 years 4 months to 12 years 1 month) with moderate-to-severe foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and another sample of 26 children (12 males, 14 females; mean age of 6 years 2 months SD 2 years 10 months, range 2 years 6 months to 12 years 8 months) with mild FAS or foetal alcohol effects (FAE) as well as a sample of 15 age- and sex-matched control children with unspecific intellectual disability were compared using the Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC). There were significant differences (p=0.01) between the groups on five of six subscales of the DBC with controls scoring lower on the disruptive, self-absorbed, anxiety, antisocial behaviour, and communication disturbance scales. The DBC profiles of the two foetal alcohol exposed groups did not differ from each other. It is concluded that quantitative behaviour measurement provides insights into specific behavioural phenotypes of FAS/FAE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland. steinh@kjpd.unizh.ch
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Steinhausen
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willms
authors.forename: Christa Winkler
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Metzke
authors.forename: Hans-Ludwig
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Spohr
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires