Symptoms of autism in Williams syndrome: a transdiagnostic approach.

Williams syndrome (WS) is associated with atypical social communication and cognition reminiscent of the behaviours observed in autism. Nonetheless, WS also differs significantly from autism, such as regarding social motivation, which is typically enhanced in WS and reduced in autism. This study sought to examine the conditions' transdiagnostic similarities and differences for autistic symptoms and social functioning, and their developmental trajectories, by comparing individuals with WS (n = 24) and those diagnosed with idiopathic autism (n = 24) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n = 24), aged 9 to 53 years, on measures of autism, social functioning, IQ and cooccurring psychiatric conditions. Although only 12.5% in the WS group met the criteria for an autism diagnosis, a majority exhibited distinct difficulties within social communication, social cognition, repetitive behaviours, and atypical sensory reactivity resembling autism. Conversely, elevated social motivation and a high number of social initiatives accompany these characteristics. No group differences in the developmental trajectories of autism symptoms were found. Our results demonstrate that autistic behaviours are more frequent in individuals with WS, than in individuals with idiopathic ADHD, and emphasize the need for clinical management of these behaviours.

Cognitive profile in adult women with turner syndrome: IQ split and associations with ADHD and ASD.

INTRODUCTION: The behavioural phenotype in Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with an uneven cognitive profile and social and executive difficulties. Still, studies in adult populations of TS are scarce, and the interactions between different behavioural domains are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the cognitive profile in relation to measures of ADHD and ASD in a Swedish sample of 30 adult women with TS. METHODS: Standardized psychological tests and questionnaires were used for behavioural assessments in a sample of adult women with a diagnosis of TS (n = 30). Both frequentist and Bayesian statistics were applied. RESULTS: The cognitive profile was characterized by a verbal > non-verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) split, and 77% of the sample displayed a split exceeding cut-off for clinical significance. Symptoms on screening measures reaching thresholds for ADHD were reported in two of the 30 participants (7%) and thresholds for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in one participant (3%). Bayesian statistics gave substantial evidence for no association between the IQ split and symptoms of ADHD/ASD. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the TS phenotype in adulthood is associated with a clinically significant uneven cognitive profile, and particular impairments in integrative executive functions.

Williams syndrome: on the role of intellectual abilities in anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) have an elevated risk for anxiety disorders throughout the life span, making it a research priority to identify the individual factors associated with anxiety. Most of the existing literature is based on questionnaire data and suggests that impaired executive functions (EF) increase the risk for anxiety in WS. The aim of this study was to use direct measures by trained clinicians to investigate the effects of general intelligence, inhibition, sustained attention, and working memory on anxiety in WS, to further elucidate potential underlying mechanisms. METHOD: Twenty-four individuals with WS participated in the study (mean age: 29 years, range: 9-53 years), together with at least one of their parents. The MINI international neuropsychiatric interview for DSM-5 was completed to establish clinical diagnosis of anxiety, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale - Severity was used for an expert rating of symptom severity. Intellectual abilities were measured using the Wechsler scales, and attention and inhibition using the Conner's Continuous Performance Test. In addition, a parent-report questionnaire measuring EF, learning and memory was collected. RESULTS: In contrast to the apriori hypothesis, there was no significant association between anxiety and core elements of EF such as working memory, sustained attention, and inhibition (i.e. the process of restraining one's impulses or behaviour). Using ordinal logistic regression analyses, we showed that decreasing intelligence quotient (IQ) and age are associated with elevated anxiety. We confirmed these results in between-groups analyses (anxiety disorder vs no current anxiety disorder), and low IQ was associated with higher risk of having an anxiety diagnosis. In addition, Bayesian statistics gave substantial evidence for no significant association between anxiety and inhibition. CONCLUSION: By using direct measures of psychological pathology and functioning, the current results provide a deeper characterisation of the WS phenotype and provide novel insights into the potential mechanisms underpinning anxiety.