Alexithymia in Noonan syndrome.
Although Noonan syndrome is quite prevalent, there is a general paucity in the description of psychological and psychiatric aspects. In the present paper a 19-year-old female patient with Noonan syndrome is described who presented with anxiety symptoms. Mutation analysis in PTPN11, the NS1 gene on chromosome 12q24, showed no abnormalities. A diagnosis of panic disorder without agoraphobia was established. Treatment with citalopram resulted in a gradual decline of anxiety symptoms. The psychological profile was characterized by a prominent alexithymia. The main conclusion is that patients with Noonan syndrome might have deficits in emotional adaptative functions. It is hypothesized that alexithymia is a key feature of the behavioural phenotype.
Verhoeven
W M
WM
Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands. wverhoeven@vvgi.nl
Hendrikx
J L
JL
MDoorakkers
M C
MC
Egger
J I
JI
Van der Burgt
I
I
Tuinier
S
S
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / Q000235:genetics; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009634:Noonan Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors