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Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Published in: Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders 1/2009

Open Access 01-03-2009 | Article

Anxiety disorders in children with Williams syndrome, their mothers, and their siblings: Implications for the etiology of anxiety disorders

Authors: Ovsanna Leyfer, Janet Woodruff-Borden, Carolyn B. Mervis

Published in: Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

This study examines the prevalence of anxiety disorders in children with Williams syndrome (WS), their sibling closest in age, and their mothers as well as the predictors of anxiety in these groups. The prevalence of anxiety disorders was assessed and compared to that in the general population. Children with WS had a significantly higher prevalence of specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and separation anxiety in comparison to children in the general population. While mothers had a higher prevalence of GAD than population controls, the excess was accounted for by mothers who had onset after the birth of their WS child. The siblings had rates similar to the general population. This pattern of findings suggests the presence of a gene in the WS region whose deletion predisposes to anxiety disorders. It is also worthwhile to investigate relations between genes deleted in WS and genes previously implicated in anxiety disorders.
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Metadata
Title
Anxiety disorders in children with Williams syndrome, their mothers, and their siblings: Implications for the etiology of anxiety disorders
Authors
Ovsanna Leyfer
Janet Woodruff-Borden
Carolyn B. Mervis
Publication date
01-03-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Issue 1/2009
Print ISSN: 1866-1947
Electronic ISSN: 1866-1955
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11689-009-9003-1

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