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Depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS)

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Abstract

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is characterized by a high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence. These disorders are a source of great impairment in everyday functioning, as well as important risk factors for the emergence of later psychotic disorders. Impairment in daily and social functioning as well as loss of IQ throughout growth are also are well-established correlates of the VCFS. This study aimed to confirm the high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders. The second objective was to ascertain the correlation between anxious and depressive symptoms and the decline in adaptive and cognitive functioning. A total of 73 children and adolescents with VCFS (mean age 11.9 years) underwent psychiatric evaluation. Subjects were further divided into four age groups: ages 6–9, 9–12, 12–15 and 15–18 years. Assessments measuring intelligence, anxious and depressive symptoms, and adaptation skills reported by parents were submitted to a subsample of 62 children (mean age 12.2 years); 62.2 % of the sample showed an anxiety disorder, specific phobia being the most represented at all ages. Lifetime depression concerned 27 % of the sample, peaking at age 12–15 years. Anxious and depressive symptoms and low IQ were significantly associated with low adaptive functioning. Anxiety and depression are common disorders in children and adolescents with VCFS and have a great impact on adaptive functioning. Clinicians should pay great attention to diagnosis and treatment.

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Abbreviations

DICA:

Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the families who kindly volunteered for this study since 2002. We extend our special thanks to Sarah Menghetti, Déborah Badoud, Catherine Pasca, Mélanie Chabloz, Gloria Repond and Danny Dukes for their help in data collection and processing. This research and the clinical research structure were supported by the Swiss National Fund to Professor Stephan Eliez (Grant Number: 32473B-121996) and the NARSAD Foundation (2002 Lieber Investigator Award). The sponsor of this study had no further role in study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing of the report and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Office Médico-Pédagogique Research Unit, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 1 David Dufour, CP 50, 1211, Geneva 8, Switzerland

    Alice Fabbro, Eleonora Rizzi, Maude Schneider & Stephan Eliez

  2. Faculty of Psychology, University of Geneva, 40 Pont d’Arve, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    Maude Schneider & Martin Debbane

  3. Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Michel-Servet 1, 1206, Geneva, Switzerland

    Stephan Eliez

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  1. Alice Fabbro
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  2. Eleonora Rizzi
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  3. Maude Schneider
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  4. Martin Debbane
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  5. Stephan Eliez
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Correspondence to Alice Fabbro.

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Fabbro, A., Rizzi, E., Schneider, M. et al. Depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS). Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 21, 379–385 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-012-0273-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-012-0273-x

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