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Autism Symptomatology in Boys with Fragile X Syndrome: A Cross Sectional Developmental Trajectories Comparison with Nonsyndromic Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Although males with fragile X syndrome (FXS) are frequently described as demonstrating autism symptomatology, there is much debate regarding whether the behavioral symptoms representing the core domains of autism are the result of the same or different underlying neurological/psychological mechanisms. The present study used a cross-sectional developmental trajectories approach to compare the profiles of autism symptomatology relative to chronological age (CA), nonverbal IQ, and expressive vocabulary ability between individuals with FXS and individuals with nonsyndromic ASD. Results suggest that the onset of autism symptoms and their developmental trajectories in males with FXS differ in important ways as a function of CA, nonverbal cognitive ability, and expressive vocabulary relative to males with nonsyndromic ASD. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Grants R01 HD054764 and U54 HD079125 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. We wish to thank the children and their families for their participation in this study. We also thank David Benjamin, Susan Harris, Beth Goodlin-Jones, Claire Hauser, Sara Armson, Eileen Haebig, Ashley Oakes, and Cecilia Compton for assisting with data collection and Susen Schroeder for coordinating all study visits. Leonard Abbeduto has received financial support to develop and implement outcome measures for fragile X syndrome clinical trials from F. Hoffman-LaRoche, Ltd., Roche TCRC, Inc. and Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited. Randi J. Hagerman has received funding from Novartis, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Alcobra and Seaside Therapeutics to carry out treatment studies in fragile X syndrome and ASD. She has also consulted with Roche/Genetech and Novartis regarding treatment studies in fragile X syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MIND Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Room 2101, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Angela John Thurman, Andrea McDuffie, Randi J. Hagerman & Leonard Abbeduto

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Angela John Thurman, Andrea McDuffie & Leonard Abbeduto

  3. Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Sara T. Kover

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Randi J. Hagerman

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  1. Angela John Thurman
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  2. Andrea McDuffie
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  4. Randi J. Hagerman
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  5. Leonard Abbeduto
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Correspondence to Angela John Thurman.

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Thurman, A.J., McDuffie, A., Kover, S.T. et al. Autism Symptomatology in Boys with Fragile X Syndrome: A Cross Sectional Developmental Trajectories Comparison with Nonsyndromic Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2816–2832 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2443-4

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