anxiety

Children with a genetic disorder called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, who frequently are believed to also have autism, often may be misidentified because the social impairments associated with their developmental delay may mimic the features of autism.

The investigators found that this pediatric patient group had psychiatric and behavioral problems well beyond what is typically reported in children with chronic epilepsy. Nearly 80% of participants had significant psychiatric symptoms, far greater than the 20%-40% prevalence of mental illness generally found in chronic pediatric epilepsy. Furthermore, children with seizures suspected to be localized in the temporal lobe were more likely to have depression symptoms and more significant behavioral issues reported by parents compared to children with seizures in other brain regions.

This preliminary clinical trial shows small but significant benefits of minocycline in children with FXS. Other treatments for FXS are being investigated, including a new class of drugs called mGluR5 inhibitors. However, minocycline is the only targeted FXS treatment that is currently available by prescription. Because of its long history of use, the side effects and safety characteristics of minocycline are well known.