Autistic spectrum disorders in velo-cardio facial syndrome (22q11.2 deletion)

J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Oct;37(9):1776-86. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0308-6. Epub 2006 Dec 19.

Abstract

The extent to which the phenotype of children comorbid for velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) differs from that of VCFS-only has not been studied. The sample consisted of 41 children (20 females) with VCFS, ranging in age from 6.5 years to 15.8 years. Eight children with VCFS met formal DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for autism based upon the ADI-R. These eight plus an additional nine participants met diagnostic criteria for an autistic spectrum disorder (VCFS + ASD). Ninety-four percent of the children with VCFS + ASD had a co-occurring psychiatric disorder while 60% of children with VCFS had a psychiatric disorder. Children with VCFS + ASD had larger right amygdala volumes. All other neuroanatomic regions of interest were statistically similar between the two groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Amygdala / physiopathology
  • Autistic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / genetics*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
  • DiGeorge Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • DiGeorge Syndrome / genetics*
  • DiGeorge Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Psychological Tests
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires