Temperament in Velocardiofacial Syndrome
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
3-2007
Abstract
Background Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is a microdeletion syndrome caused by a 22q11.2 chromosomal deletion. Methods In this study, parents reported on their own temperament as well as the temperament of their child. Sixty-seven children with VCFS (mean age = 10.8, SD = 2.8; range 6–15), and age-, race- and gender-ratio matched samples of 47 community control participants (mean age = 10.4, SD = 2.6; range 6–15), and 18 sibling control participants (mean age = 12.1, SD = 1.9; range 9–15) took part in the current project. Results Children with VCFS have a temperament that may best be described as modestly difficult; while participants with VCFS were not more difficult across all temperamental domains, children with VCFS were rated by their parents as being: (1) less regular in their daily habits (e.g. eating at the same time each day, etc.); (2) less able to focus/sustain attention; (3) less cheerful/pleasant; (4) less likely to stay with an activity for a long time; and (5) less able to respond flexibly to changes in the environment. Conclusions The best predictors of parent report of behavioural symptoms in children with VCFS were poor concordance between parent and child temperament across general activity level and mood domains.
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00859.x
PMID
1730041
Recommended Citation
Antshel, K. M., Stallone, K., AbdulSabur, N., Shprintzen, R.. J., Roizen, N., Higgins, A. M., & Kates, W. R. (2007). Temperament in velocardiofacial syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51(3), 218-227.
Publication
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Volume
51
Issue
3
Publisher
Wiley
Pages
218-227
Comments
At the time of publication Robert J. Shprintzen was affilliated with Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York - Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. He is also an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University.