Neurobehavioral disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults with Down syndrome.

Title
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsCapone G, Goyal P, Ares W, Lannigan E
JournalAm J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet
Volume142C
Issue3
Pagination158-72
Date Published2006 Aug 15
ISSN1552-4868
KeywordsAdolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Depression, Down Syndrome, Humans, Intellectual Disability, Mood Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, Stereotypic Movement Disorder
Abstract

The term dual-diagnosis refers to a person with mental retardation and a psychiatric disorder. Most children with Down syndrome (DS) do not have a psychiatric or neurobehavioral disorder. Current prevalence estimates of neurobehavioral and psychiatric co-morbidity in children with DS range from 18% to 38%. We have found it useful to distinguish conditions with a pre-pubertal onset from those presenting in the post-pubertal period, as these are biologically distinct periods each with a unique vulnerability to specific psychiatric disorders. Due to the increased recognition that psychiatric symptoms may co-occur with mental retardation, and are not inextricably linked to cognitive impairment, these conditions are considered treatable, in part, under a medical model. Improvement in physiologic regulation, emotional stability, and neurocognitive processing is one of the most elusive but fundamental goals of pharmacologic intervention in these disorders.

DOI10.1002/ajmg.c.30097
Alternate JournalAm J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet
PubMed ID16838318