Premium
Characterising repetitive behaviours in young boys with fragile X syndrome
Author(s) -
Oakes A.,
Thurman A. J.,
McDuffie A.,
Bullard L. M.,
Hagerman R. J.,
Abbeduto L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/jir.12234
Subject(s) - fragile x syndrome , psychology , autism , nonverbal communication , anxiety , autism spectrum disorder , intellectual disability , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social anxiety , typically developing , psychiatry
Background Repetitive behaviours are frequently observed in individuals with intellectual disability (ID). The present study examined the profile, inter‐correlations and predictive correlates of repetitive behaviours in boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading inherited cause of ID. Specific child characteristics examined as predictors included anxiety, nonverbal cognition and autism social–affective symptomatology. Method Participants were 39 boys with FXS (aged 6–10 years). Repetitive behaviours were measured using the Repetitive Behavior Scale – Revised (RBS‐R) – a 43‐item caregiver‐report measure normed on individuals with ID. Results Restricted Interests and Sensory Motor behaviours were reported as most problematic for this sample of boys, whereas Self‐injurious behaviours were less problematic. All subscales of the RBS‐R were significantly inter‐correlated. Nonverbal IQ was negatively related, whereas anxiety and social affective symptoms of autism spectrum disorder were positively related, to scores for Restricted Interests. Anxiety was also positively related to scores for Compulsive behaviours and Ritualistic Sameness behaviours. Conclusions This study provides a preliminary description of repetitive behaviours in boys with FXS, which may form the groundwork for future research.