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Rett syndrome in adults with severe intellectual disability: Exploration of behavioral characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Johnny L. Matson ,
Timothy Dempsey  and
Jonathan Wilkins
Johnny L. Matson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 324 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA70803, USA
Timothy Dempsey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 324 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA70803, USA
Jonathan Wilkins
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 324 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA70803, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 225 578 4104. E-mail address: johnmatson@aol.com (J.L. Matson).
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Abstract

Rett syndrome is a genetically linked form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) accompanied by intellectual disability (ID). The disorder is also characterized by cardiorespiratory dysregulation, disturbance in muscle tone, reduced brain growth and scoliosis. Over 300 studies have been published on the disorder, most of which has focused on identification of causative factors, which appears to be the result of mutations of gene MECP2. Rarely have adults with Rett syndrome been studied, and behavioral characteristics in these individuals are largely unknown. The present study aimed to extend what little is known about behavioral characteristics of Rett syndrome in adults, with particular emphasis on social, communicative, and adaptive behavior. Rett syndrome adults with severe ID were matched to autistic adults with ID and ID only controls. The implications of these data for more fully describing and diagnosing the condition in adults are discussed.

Keywords

Rett syndromeAdultsBehavioral characteristics
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 23 , Issue 6 , September 2008 , pp. 460 - 465
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2008

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