ADHD symptoms and insistence on sameness in Prader-Willi syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Apart from a pervasive eating disorder, the Prader-Willi (PWS) syndrome is characterized by a distinct behavioural profile comprising maladaptive behaviours, obsessive-compulsive traits and skin picking, all included in the PWS behavioural phenotype. In this study, we present a further delineation of this characteristic behavioural profile by screening for indices of executive dysfunctions related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), immature compulsive-like adherence to sameness and skin picking, and how these features aggregate into symptom constellations in children and adolescents with PWS.


METHODS
Parents of 58 individuals with PWS (aged 5-18 years) participated by completing Childhood Routines Inventory (CRI) and Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-48).


RESULTS
Results showed that indices of ADHD and excessive insistence on sameness were common, comorbid and of early onset. They were both associated with conduct problems. Skin picking, appearing as a single and comorbid symptom, was less associated with childlike compulsions and ADHD-related problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings are discussed in terms of further research in executive dysfunctions in PWS.
Wigren
M
M
Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, Box 500, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. margareta.wigren@psy.gu.se
Hansen
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden