Psychosocial Risks and Management for Children and Adolescents With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Canice E. Crerand ◽  
Ari N. Rabkin

Purpose This article reviews the psychosocial risks associated with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a relatively common genetic condition associated with a range of physical and psychiatric problems. Risks associated with developmental stages from infancy through adolescence and early adulthood are described, including developmental, learning, and intellectual disabilities as well as psychiatric disorders including anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders. Other risks related to coping with health problems and related treatments are also detailed for both affected individuals and their families. Conclusion The article ends with strategies for addressing psychosocial risks including provision of condition-specific education, enhancement of social support, routine assessment of cognitive abilities, regular mental health screening, and referrals for empirically supported psychiatric and psychological treatments.

2007 ◽  
Vol 164 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doron Gothelf ◽  
Carl Feinstein ◽  
Tracy Thompson ◽  
Eugene Gu ◽  
Lauren Penniman ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Weinberger ◽  
O. Weisman ◽  
Y. Guri ◽  
T. Harel ◽  
A. Weizman ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThe 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is the most common genetic syndrome associated with schizophrenia. The goal of this study was to evaluate longitudinally the interaction between neurocognitive functioning, the presence of subthreshold psychotic symptoms (SPS) and conversion to psychosis in individuals with 22q11DS. In addition, we attempted to identify the specific neurocognitive domains that predict the longitudinal evolution of positive and negative SPS, as well as the effect of psychiatric medications on 22q11DS psychiatric and cognitive developmental trajectories.MethodsForty-four participants with 22q11DS, 19 with Williams syndrome (WS) and 30 typically developing (TD) controls, age range 12–35 years, were assessed at two time points (15.2 ± 2.1 months apart). Evaluation included the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS), structured psychiatric evaluation and the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB).Results22q11DS individuals with SPS had a yearly conversion rate to psychotic disorders of 8.8%, compared to none in both WS and TD controls. Baseline levels of negative SPS were associated with global neurocognitive performance (GNP), executive function and social cognition deficits, in individuals with 22q11DS, but not in WS. Deficits in GNP predicted negative SPS in 22q11DS and the emergence or persistence of negative SPS. 22q11DS individuals treated with psychiatric medications showed significant improvement in GNP score between baseline and follow-up assessments, an improvement that was not seen in untreated 22q11DS.ConclusionsOur results highlight the time-dependent interplay among positive and negative SPS symptoms, neurocognition and pharmacotherapy in the prediction of the evolution of psychosis in 22q11DS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Fanella ◽  
Marianna Frascarelli ◽  
Caterina Lambiase ◽  
Alessandra Morano ◽  
Marta Unolt ◽  
...  

Background22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is considered as the genetic model of schizophrenia. However, its polymorphic nature has led researchers to further investigate its neuropsychiatric manifestations.MethodsWe enrolled 56 adults (38 men, 18 women) diagnosed with 22q11.2DS. All subjects were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. The neuropsychiatric features were investigated by means of clinical and neurophysiological evaluation (video-EEG).ResultsThirty per cent of our patients were left-handed. Fifty-eight per cent had a low IQ, and 22 of 56 subjects had psychotic disorders (13 of 22 with schizophrenia). Eighteen patients reported at least one seizure in their lifetime, and ten were diagnosed with epilepsy; among them, seven had genetic generalised epilepsy (GGE), and five of seven showed features suggestive of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Video-EEG recordings revealed generalised epileptiform abnormalities in 24 of 56 cases. Besides, only one patient with epilepsy had a cardiac malformation. Lastly, 31 of 56 subjects presented with parkinsonism, 16 of whom were taking neuroleptics. None of the 15 patients with parkinsonism not related to neuroleptic therapy was diagnosed with epilepsy, compared with 6 of those taking antipsychotics.Conclusions22q11.2DS is characterised by left-handedness and neuropsychiatric features such as cognitive impairment, schizophrenia, epilepsy and parkinsonism. GGE, mostly the JME phenotype, is the predominant epilepsy type. The significant association between 22q11.2DS and parkinsonian features confirms these patients’ genetic susceptibility to parkinsonism. Despite the lack of any conclusive evidence, our study suggests a possible relationship between the analysed clinical variables: (1) an inverse correlation between low IQ/psychosis/epilepsy and major cardiac diseases; (2) a direct association between psychosis and both mental delay and epilepsy; and (3) an inverse correlation between parkinsonism and epilepsy.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1881-1887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Baldini

The 22q11.2 deletion/DiGeorge syndrome is a relatively common “genomic” disorder that results from heterozygous deletion of a 3-Mbp segment of chromosome 22. Of the more than 30 genes deleted in this syndrome,TBX1is the only one that has been found to be mutated in some patients with a phenotype that is very similar to that of patients with the full deletion, suggesting thatTBX1haploinsufficiency is a major contributor to the syndrome’s phenotype. Multi- and single-gene mouse models have provided a considerable amount of information about the consequences of decreased and increased dosage of the genomic region (and in particular of theTbx1gene) on mouse embryonic development. Modified alleles ofTbx1, as well as conditional ablation strategies have been utilized to mapin vivothe tissues and developmental stages most sensitive to gene dosage. These experiments have revealed substantially different sensitivity to gene dosage in different tissues and at different times, underlying the importance of the developmental context within which gene dosage reduction occurs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 215 (5) ◽  
pp. 661-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Vingerhoets ◽  
Mathilde J.F. van Oudenaren ◽  
Oswald J.N. Bloemen ◽  
Erik Boot ◽  
Esther D.A. van Duin ◽  
...  

Background22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), one of the most common recurrent copy number variant disorders, is associated with dopaminergic abnormalities and increased risk for psychotic disorders.AimsGiven the elevated prevalence of substance use and dopaminergic abnormalities in non-deleted patients with psychosis, we investigated the prevalence of substance use in 22q11DS, compared with that in non-deleted patients with psychosis and matched healthy controls.MethodThis cross-sectional study involved 434 patients with 22q11DS, 265 non-deleted patients with psychosis and 134 healthy controls. Psychiatric diagnosis, full-scale IQ and COMT Val158Met genotype were determined in the 22q11DS group. Substance use data were collected according to the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.ResultsThe prevalence of total substance use (36.9%) and substance use disorders (1.2%), and weekly amounts of alcohol and nicotine use, in patients with 22q11DS was significantly lower than in non-deleted patients with psychosis or controls. Compared with patients with 22q11DS, healthy controls were 20 times more likely to use substances in general (P < 0.001); results were also significant for alcohol and nicotine use separately. Within the 22q11DS group, there was no relationship between the prevalence of substance use and psychosis or COMT genotype. Male patients with 22q11DS were more likely to use substances than female patients with 22q11DS.ConclusionsThe results suggest that patients with 22q11DS are at decreased risk for substance use and substance use disorders despite the increased risk of psychotic disorders. Further research into neurobiological and environmental factors involved in substance use in 22q11DS is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms involved.Declaration of interestNone.


Neurocase ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie E. Bearden ◽  
Theo G. M. van Erp ◽  
John R. Monterosso ◽  
Tony J. Simon ◽  
David C. Glahn ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1914-1922
Author(s):  
Wendy R. Kates ◽  
Margaret A. Mariano ◽  
Kevin M. Antshel ◽  
Shanel Chandra ◽  
Hilary Gamble ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundChromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia in up to 30% of individuals with the syndrome. Despite this, we know relatively little about trajectories and predictors of persistence of psychiatric disorders from middle childhood to early adulthood. Accordingly, we followed youth over four timepoints, every 3 years, to assess long-term trajectories of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, mood, and psychosis-spectrum disorders (PSDs), as well as medication usage.MethodsEighty-seven youth with 22q11DS and 65 controls between the ages of 9 and 15 years at the first timepoint (T1; mean age 11.88 ± 2.1) were followed for 9 years (mean age of 21.22 ± 2.01 years at T4). Baseline cognitive, clinical, and familial predictors of persistence were identified for each class of psychiatric disorders.ResultsBaseline age and parent-rated hyperactivity scores predicted ADHD persistence [area under curve (AUC) = 0.81]. The presence of family conflict predicted persistence of anxiety disorders (ADs) whereas parent ratings of child internalizing symptoms predicted persistence of both anxiety and mood disorders (MDs) (AUC = 0.84 and 0.83, respectively). Baseline prodromal symptoms predicted persistent and emergent PSDs (AUC = 0.83). Parent-reported use of anti-depressants/anxiolytics increased significantly from T1 to T4.ConclusionsPsychiatric, behavioral, and cognitive functioning during late childhood and early adolescence successfully predicted children with 22q11DS who were at highest risk for persistent psychiatric illness in young adulthood. These findings emphasize the critical importance of early assessments and interventions in youth with 22q11DS.


2016 ◽  
Vol 123 (12) ◽  
pp. 1491-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Midbari Kufert ◽  
Ariela Nachmani ◽  
Einat Nativ ◽  
Abraham Weizman ◽  
Doron Gothelf

2012 ◽  
Vol 200 (6) ◽  
pp. 462-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasja N. Duijff ◽  
Petra W. J. Klaassen ◽  
Henriette F. N. Swanenburg de Veye ◽  
Frits A. Beemer ◽  
Gerben Sinnema ◽  
...  

BackgroundPeople with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (velo-cardio-facial syndrome) have a 30-fold risk of developing schizophrenia. In the general population the schizophrenia phenotype includes a cognitive deficit and a decline in academic performance preceding the first episode of psychosis in a subgroup of patients. Findings of cross-sectional studies suggest that cognitive abilities may decline over time in some children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. If confirmed longitudinally, this could indicate that one or more genes within 22q11.2 are involved in cognitive decline.AimsTo assess longitudinally the change in IQ scores in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.MethodSixty-nine children with the syndrome were cognitively assessed two or three times at set ages 5.5 years, 7.5 years and 9.5 years.ResultsA mean significant decline of 9.7 Full Scale IQ points was found between ages 5.5 years and 9.5 years. In addition to the overall relative decline that occurred when results were scored according to age-specific IQ norms, in 10 out of a group of 29 children an absolute decrease in cognitive raw scores was found between ages 7.5 years and 9.5 years. The decline was not associated with a change in behavioural measures.ConclusionsThe finding of cognitive decline can be only partly explained as the result of ‘growing into deficit’; about a third of 29 children showed an absolute loss of cognitive faculties. The results underline the importance of early psychiatric screening in this population and indicate that further study of the genes at the 22q11.2 locus may be relevant to understanding the genetic basis of early cognitive deterioration.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Zarchi ◽  
A. Diamond ◽  
R. Weinberger ◽  
D. Abbott ◽  
M. Carmel ◽  
...  

AbstractPurpose:22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) and Williams syndrome (WS) are common neurogenetic microdeletion syndromes. The aim of the present study was to compare the neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive phenotypes of 22q11.2DS and WS.Methods:Forty-five individuals with 22q11.2DS, 24 with WS, 22 with idiopathic developmental disability (DD) and 22 typically developing (TD) controls were compared for the rates of psychiatric disorders as well as cognitive executive and visuospatial functions.Results:We found that while anxiety, mood and disruptive disorders had an equally high prevalence among individuals with 22q11.2DS, WS and DDs, the 22q11.2DS group had the highest rates of psychotic disorders and the WS group had the highest rates of specific phobia. We also found that the WS group demonstrated more severe impairments in both executive and visuospatial functions than the other groups. WS and 22q11.2DS subjects had worse Performance-IQ than Verbal-IQ, a feature typical of non-verbal learning disorders.Conclusion:These findings offer a wide perspective on unique versus common phenotypes in 22q11.2DS and WS.


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