title: Is there an increased familial prevalence of psychopathology in children with nonverbal learning disorders?
abstract: The cognitive and behavioral symptoms of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) have been described by previous investigators. Nevertheless, we know far less about the potential genetic contributions that may predispose a child to have NLD. An endophenotype model was investigated in 5 samples of children ages 9 to 15 years: NLD (n = 32); reading disorders (RD; n = 59); participants with a psychiatric diagnosis but without a learning disability (n = 55); typically developing controls (n = 31); and children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), a chromosomal deletion syndrome that has been proposed as being an exemplar of NLD (VCFS + NLD; n = 20). Based on a family genetic interview, the authors' data suggest that children with NLD, RD, or a psychiatric diagnosis have a higher prevalence rate of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance abuse/dependence. Psychiatric controls and children with NLD--but not children with RD-- showed higher prevalence rates of familial bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York-Upstate Medical University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. antshelk@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Antshel
authors.forename: Fahad M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D015995:Prevalence