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Adults with Williams syndrome

Preliminary study of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Mark Davies ,
Patricia Howlin  and
Orlee Udwin
Mark Davies
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Patricia Howlin
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Orlee Udwin
Affiliation:
Mary Sheridan Centre for Child Health, Lambeth Healthcare NHS Trust, London
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Abstract

Background

In recent years there has been an upsurge of interest in the study of distinctive patterns of behavioural and psychological characteristics associated with specific, biologically determined, intellectually disabling conditions. This study investigates whether such a profile can be identified in adults with Williams syndrome.

Method

Parents and other care-givers were interviewed about the social, emotional and behavioural characteristics of 70 adults with Williams syndrome, aged 19 years to 39 years 9 months.

Results

The adults were reported to have high rates of behavioural and emotional difficulties, particularly in terms of poor social relationships, over-friendliness and social disinhibition, preoccupations and obsessions, and high levels of anxiety and distractibility.

Conclusions

The findings provide preliminary support for the existence of a specific pattern of behavioural and personality characteristics and associated difficulties in adults with Williams syndrome, which persist from childhood and often require intervention from mental health professionals. Implications for clinical practice are considered.

Type
Preliminary Report
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 172 , Issue 3 , March 1998 , pp. 273 - 276
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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