Temperament in velocardiofacial syndrome

J Intellect Disabil Res. 2007 Mar;51(Pt 3):218-27. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00859.x.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
  • DiGeorge Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • DiGeorge Syndrome / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Social Environment
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Temperament*
  • Wechsler Scales