Behavioral and Psychiatric Disorders in Adult Male Carriers of Fragile X

In the present study we examined the incidence of psychiatric and behavioral problems among male carriers of the fragile X gene. Retrospective data on carrier males were gathered using the family informant method. Each of 56 fragile X carrier women was interviewed about her father by an examiner blind to the father's carrier status. The interviewer administered measures of (1) behaviors related to DSM-III-R Axis I disorders, (2) adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviors, (3) parental bonding skills, and (4) abusive behaviors. The endorsements from 24 women with fragile X fathers were compared with endorsements from 32 women with nonfragile X fathers. The results show a higher incidence of psychopathology among the fragile X males (relative to nonfragile X fathers) for behaviors related to adult ADHD, parental bonding, abuse; and particularly for alcohol abuse/dependence and obsessive-compulsive disorder behaviors. These findings support the hypotheses that some “nonpenetrant” males may indeed be mildly affected carriers and that there is a broad spectrum of involvement among carrier males.