Relationships between challenging behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with Angelman syndrome
Geraldine Leader, Rebecca Gilligan, Sally Whelan, Rory Coyne, Aoife Caher, Keeley White, Ivan Traina, Shellita Muchenje, Rudo L Machaka, Arlene Mannion, Geraldine Leader, Rebecca Gilligan, Sally Whelan, Rory Coyne, Aoife Caher, Keeley White, Ivan Traina, Shellita Muchenje, Rudo L Machaka, Arlene Mannion
Abstract
Background: Angelman syndrome (AS), is a rare genetic disorder. This study investigated the relationship between parent-reported comorbid symptoms including gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, internalizing symptoms, and behavior problems in children and adolescents with AS.
Method: Parents of 98 children and adolescents with AS completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist, Social Communication Questionnaire, and the Behavior Problem Inventory-Short Form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regressions.
Results: There was a high frequency of GI symptoms (99%), sleep problems (95.9%), challenging behavior (98%), internalizing symptoms (38%), and 72.4% of children and adolescents presented with ASD symptoms. Self-injurious behavior (SIB), aggressive/destructive behavior, and the frequency of stereotyped behavior positively correlated with GI symptoms and sleep problems and it was moderately negatively associated with age. Internalizing symptoms and age were positively associated with SIB. Aggression was significantly related to gender, but not the presence of ASD symptoms.
Conclusions: Findings highlight the relationships between comorbid conditions. They may lead to a deeper understanding of how comorbidities present in children and adolescents with Angelman Syndrome.
Keywords: Angelman syndrome; Challenging behavior; Comorbidity; Gastrointestinal symptoms; Internalizing symptoms; Sleep problems.
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed