title: The neuropsychological phenotype of velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS): relationship to psychopathology.
abstract: Children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS; N=14) and a comparison group of siblings (N=8) underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment to examine the relationship between cognitive functioning and psychopathology. Significant group differences were obtained on tests of full scale and verbal intellectual functioning and perceptual-motor skills. With the exception of performance on tests of attention and executive functioning, children with VCFS displayed a profile consistent with nonverbal learning disability (NLD). However, within group comparisons revealed significantly poorer visuospatial intellectual and nonverbal memory functioning in sibling controls as well. No significant group differences were obtained on tests of motor speed, academic, language, attention, memory, or executive functioning, with significant variability in children with VCFS frequently accounting for the lack of robust differences. Parent-report measures revealed profiles consistent with ADHD. No clinically significant symptoms of psychosis, depression or anxiety were noted on either self- or parent-report measures. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance was found to be highly and negatively correlated with the Thought Problems subscale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for VCFS children only, suggesting a possible at-risk indicator for later onset psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA. rjlaines@emich.edu
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lajiness-O'Neill
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asamoah
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Titus
authors.forename: Erawati
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bawle
authors.forename: Saadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pollack
mesh_terms: D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004062:DiGeorge Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents; D010641:Phenotype; D012720:Severity of Illness Index