Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Males and Females with Fragile X Syndrome: Developmental Trajectories in Toddlers Through Young Adults.

Abstract

There is limited research on the trajectory of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in fragile X syndrome (FXS), with previous studies only examining males and/or examining RRBs as a unitary construct rather than delineating subtypes of RRBs. Thus, we described the trajectory of five subtypes of RRBs in 153 males and females with FXS (aged 1-18 years) with repeated measurement over time (445 total assessments). Multilevel modeling was used to test age-related differences in RRB subtypes between males and females with FXS, controlling for nonverbal IQ. Results showed that lower-order Sensory-Motor behaviors decreased over time for both males and females, while there was no significant change in the higher-order RRBs. The trajectory between males and females differed for Self-Injury.