Parental reports and children's self-reports of manifest anxiety were obtained from a community-based sample of twin pairs on two occasions approximately 19 months apart, using the Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale (Reynolds & Richmond, 1978). In prior cross-sectional studies, a low degree of agreement between parent and child assessments of anxiety was found. Furthermore, parental reports were found to reflect a higher heritability than children's self-reports (Eaves et al., 1997; Thapar & McGuffin, 1995). The index of temporal stability was moderate for all informants (circa r = .5 to r = .6). To test whether the components contributing to the temporal stability differed between the informants, structural equation models were fitted to the data using the program, Mx: Statistical Modeling (Neale, 1995). The results showed substantial differences in genetic effects according to both gender and informant. For children's self-reports, temporal stability was largely a function of environmental effects, with genetic effects contributing a modest 20%, whereas for parental reports, temporal stability was largely a function of genetic effects. The heritability was higher for parental reports than for boys' self-reports and the genetic covariance between parents and their sons was near zero, indicating that they were reporting on quite different aspects of anxiety. However, for girls, heritability for maternal reports was lower than for self-reports, and the genetic covariance between mother and daughter was about the same as that between mothers and fathers, meaning that they were assessing the same genetically influenced aspect of anxiety. These results highlight the need to focus on gender differences.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of global severe privation on cognitive competence: extension and longitudinal follow-up. English and Romanian Adoptees Study Team.

The current study extends previous research on a sample of children adopted into the United Kingdom following severe early deprivation and a comparison sample of nondeprived, within-country, early adoptees. We assessed 165 children adopted from Romania and 52 U.K. adoptees at age 6 years. Longitudinal data (at age 4 and 6 years) were available on 111 Romanian adoptees placed into U.K. homes before 24 months of age and on all U.K. adoptees. Results indicated that there was considerable catch-up among late-placed Romanian children from entry into the United Kingdom to age 6, but as a group they exhibited lower cognitive scores and general developmental impairment compared with earlier adopted Romanian children. In addition, the resilience suggested at the assessment at age 4 years was maintained longitudinally, but there was no further evidence of catch-up or recovery.

Anthropometry↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular and cytogenetic investigations of the fragile X region including the Frax A and Frax E CGG trinucleotide repeat sequences in families multiplex for autism and related phenotypes.

We undertook molecular and cytogenetic analyses in 25 families multiplex for autism and related disorders. Three of the multiplex families exhibited fragile X, and the affected offspring all exhibited CGG triplet repeat insertion mutations in the FMR-1 gene. One of these families contained an affected pair of monozygotic female twins. Both had similar-sized CGG triplet repeat expansions, but different phenotypic manifestations. One suffered from autism and the other from mild mental retardation and marked social anxiety. PCR and Southern hybridization analysis of the CGG repeat sequences characterizing fragile X A (Frax A) and E and the methylation status of FMR-1 showed no evidence of abnormal CGG repeat expansion or FMR-1 hypermethylation in the remaining 22 multiplex families. Moreover, there was no correlation between the Frax A or E (CGG)n repeat length with affected status, nor any association with the low-level (< 3 %) expression of cytogenetic fragility at Xq27 previously reported in these families. Our findings indicate that most instances of recurrence in families multiplex for autism and related disorders are not accounted for by Frax A and E. They also indicate that the phenotypic manifestations of Frax A may be influenced by stochastic, environmental and other biological factors.

Autistic Disorder↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence and developmental course of 'secret language'.

The prevalence and developmental course of supposed 'secret language' was examined in a cohort of twins and closely spaced singletons pairs, with systematic assessments at 20 months and again at 36 months. Two forms of apparent 'secret language' were examined: (1) shared understanding--speech directed generally but unintelligible to the parent, although apparently clearly understood within the child pair, and (2) private language directed exclusively to the other twin/sibling--not intelligible to the parent, but apparently clearly understood and used only within the child pair. Both occurred in singleton pairs, but the rate was much higher in twins. In most cases it seemed to be a developmental phenomenon occurring in the second year of life with the emergence of immature speech, and decreasing considerably over the next 16 months. A small group of children, primarily male twins, was reported to use a private language at 36 months. This group had poorer cognitive and language functioning, and was characterized by highly dependent relationships. Some aspects of the twins' home environment were less stimulating and less responsive, most probably reflecting the abilities and relationships of the children. A follow-up of these children when they were approximately 6 years of age showed that language outcome was poor for the subgroup (n = 4) who did not develop normal language alongside the use of a private language.

Environment↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The autistic child.

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Autistic Disorder↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intermenstrual bleeding.

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Female↗