Anxiety disorders in fragile X premutation carriers: Preliminary characterization of probands and non-probands

• Cordeiro Lisa

  Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado

• Abucayan Floridette

  MIND Institute, University of California Davis

• Hagerman Randi

  MIND Institute, University of California Davis Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis

• Tassone Flora

  MIND Institute, University of California Davis Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis

• Hessl David

  MIND Institute, University of California Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis

Abstract

A very high proportion of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) (FMR1 full mutation, > 200 CGG repeats) experience clinically significant anxiety. Recent evidence suggests that adult fragile X premutation carriers (55-200 CGG repeats) also are at risk for anxiety disorders, and they demonstrate limbic system alterations mediated by FMRP and/or elevated FMR1 mRNA that may explain this heightened risk. However, less is known about psychiatric symptoms including anxiety among children and adolescents with the premutation. We completed structured DSM-IV based diagnostic interviews focused on current anxiety in 35 children, adolescents or young adults with the premutation (ages 5-23 years, M = 11.3 ± 4.3; 27 male; 20 probands and 15 non-probands) and 31 controls (ages 5-18 years, M = 9.9 ± 3.6; 22 males). Among premutation carriers, 70.6% met criteria for at least one anxiety disorder (most frequently generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social phobia, or obsessive compulsive disorder), compared to 22.6% of controls and 9.8% of the general population in this age range. Premutation carriers with intellectual disability, male gender, and proband status were associated with the highest rates of anxiety disorders. However, non-probands did have higher rates of having any anxiety disorder (40.0%) compared to general population norms. Although the results implicate anxiety as a target of screening and intervention among youth with the premutation, larger studies of unselected samples from the population of premutation carriers are needed to confirm and specify the degree and extent of psychiatric disorders in this condition.

Journal

• Intractable & Rare Diseases Research

  Intractable & Rare Diseases Research 4 (3), 123-130, 2015

  International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement

Keywords

• Premutation carriers
• proband
• fragile X syndrome (FXS)
• anxiety
• social phobia
• specific phobia
• intellectual disability

Details

• CRID: 1390282680523400448
• NII Article ID: 130005094480
• DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2015.01029
• ISSN: 2186361X
• ISSN: 21863644
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/irdr/4/3/4_2015.01029/_pdf
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2016247340
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed