title: The association between behavior and genotype in Rett syndrome using the Australian Rett Syndrome Database.
abstract: This study compared the behavior profile of cases in the Australian Rett Syndrome Database (ARSD) with those in a British study using the Rett Syndrome Behavior Questionnaire (RSBQ) and then examined behavioral patterns as measured by the RSBQ by genetic status. There were 145 Australian cases meeting the criteria for the first arm of the study and 135 for the second arm. Comparison of the scores obtained from the British and Australian cohorts indicated that the RSBQ was a satisfactory measure for describing behaviors in Rett Syndrome (RS). Overall, there were some differences among the behavior patterns of cases with the well-known common mutations. Fear/anxiety was more commonly reported in those with R133C and R306C. Those with the R294X mutation were more likely to have mood difficulties and body rocking but less likely to have hand behaviors and to display repetitive face movements. In contrast, hand behaviors were more commonly reported in those with R270X or R255X. We found the RSBQ is an appropriate instrument for measuring behavior in girls with RS. Some behaviors differ according to genetic mutation but there is both inter and intra mutation variation in behavior and there is a need for larger studies involving international collaboration to improve statistical power.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia. lailar@ichr.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Sonĵa E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jacoby
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellaway
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2