Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Psychology

Sub-Department

College of Arts and Sciences

First Advisor

Jane E. Roberts

Abstract

Individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) experience disproportionate rates of diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when compared to the general population. Exact prevalence rates and outcomes for individuals with a diagnosis of FXS and ADHD is not well known. The current study assesses rates of ADHD diagnosis in individuals with FXS as well as tests the prediction of a diagnosis of ADHD from levels of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptom presentation. The present study included 30 individuals with FXS aged 13-25 and were assessed using a structured diagnostic interview. Interviews were conducted with individual’s parents’ due to low cognitive ability found in individuals with FXS. ASD symptoms were not found to be a significant predictor of ADHD in our sample. Diagnostic prevalence rates of ADHD were found to be 45% for the FXS sample. Individuals with FXS experience diagnostic rates of ADHD significantly higher than those found in the general population. The presence of ASD does not appear to account for the differences found in these rates.

Rights

© 2018, Shannon L. O’Connor

Share

COinS