Citation

Crawford H, Karakatsani E, Singla G, Oliver C. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2019; 49(7): 2913-2922.

Affiliation

Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, 52 Pritchatts Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. c.oliver@bham.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10803-019-04002-3

PMID

31020491

Abstract

Self-injurious and aggressive behaviors are common in fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, little is known about the persistence of these behaviors and associated risk markers. We established the prevalence and persistence of self-injurious and aggressive behaviors over eight years in males with FXS, and associations with risk markers.

RESULTS showed 77% and 69% persistence rates for self-injurious and aggressive behavior, respectively. Baseline levels of repetitive behavior predicted persistent self-injurious behavior. Chronological age, impulsivity and overactivity were associated with persistent aggressive behavior but only impulsivity predicted persistence. This is the first study to document the persistence of self-injurious and aggressive behavior in FXS over the medium to long term and to identify behavioral risk markers that might facilitate targeted early intervention.

Language: en

Keywords

Aggression; Autism; Challenging behavior; Early intervention; Fragile X syndrome; Impulsivity; Repetitive behavior; Risk markers; Self-injurious behavior