Patterns of Behavior and Medical Comorbidities in Down syndrome

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Children and young adults with Down syndrome can demonstrate increased behavior problems compared to their typically developing peers through childhood and adolescence. This study aims to: (1) identify common patterns of behaviors in children and young adults with Down syndrome and (2) assess potential medical comorbidities that could increase the risk for behavioral challenges.

Methods

This retrospective, cross-sectional study identifies common patterns of behaviors in 378 children and young adults between 2 and 22 years of age with Down syndrome receiving care at a single medical center.

Results

Composite scores were developed for each of the four study factors: (1) Externalization, (2) Apprehension, (3) Internalization, and (4) Harm/Unrest. Analysis of variance was conducted on the influence of comorbidities on the four factors. Results indicated that the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Autism, feeding problems, heart defect, infantile spasms, obstructive sleep apnea, and prematurity on problematic behaviors were statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of addressing medical comorbidities to potentially reduce problematic behavior, while also identifying neurodevelopmental differences that result in categorical behavioral challenges for children and young adults with Down syndrome.

KEYWORDS:

• Down syndrome
• behavioral challenges
• problem behavior
• characteristics
• medical comorbidities

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation.