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Information processing in patients with early and continuously-treated phenylketonuria

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  • Metabolic Diseases
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Abstract

A total of 33 patients with early and continuously-treated phenylketonuria (PKU) between 7 and 16 years of age and 33 matched controls participated in a study examining perceptual, central, and response-related mechanisms of information processing. The specific mechanisms studied were: perceptual filtering, memory search, response selection, response execution, and motor presetting. In addition, groups were compared on mean intelligence level and task oriented behaviour. The performance of the PKU patients practically matched that of the controls on all three tasks, suggesting that PKU patients who are continuously maintained on a well-controlled phenylalanine-restricted diet are not impaired in the elementary mechanisms of information processing. Furthermore, groups did not differ in mean IQ or task-oriented behaviour.

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Abbreviations

PKU :

phenylketonuria

Phe :

phenylalanine

IQ :

intelligence quotient

ISI :

inter-stimulus interval

WISC-R :

Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental and Experimental Clinical Psychology, State University Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2-I, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands

    B. A. Stemerdink, J. J. van der Meere & A. F. Kalverboer

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    M. W. van der Molen

  3. Department of Child Psychiatry, University Hospital AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    M. M. T. Hendrikx

  4. Department of Medical Psychology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Huisman

  5. Department of Child Psychology, University Hospital St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    L. W. A. van der Schot

  6. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sophia Childrens Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    F. M. E. Slijper

  7. Beatrix Child Clinic, University Hospital of Groningen, The Netherlands

    F. J. van Spronsen

  8. TNO Institute of Preventive Health Care, Leiden, The Netherlands

    P. H. Verkerk

Authors
  1. B. A. Stemerdink
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  2. J. J. van der Meere
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  3. M. W. van der Molen
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  4. A. F. Kalverboer
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  5. M. M. T. Hendrikx
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  6. J. Huisman
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  7. L. W. A. van der Schot
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  8. F. M. E. Slijper
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  9. F. J. van Spronsen
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  10. P. H. Verkerk
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Stemerdink, B.A., van der Meere, J.J., van der Molen, M.W. et al. Information processing in patients with early and continuously-treated phenylketonuria. Eur J Pediatr 154, 739–746 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276719

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276719

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