Genes on the X and Y chromosomes have been found to have influence on the development of the brain, and thus on the development of psychopathology. Children with Sex Chromosome Trisomies (SCT) have...Show moreGenes on the X and Y chromosomes have been found to have influence on the development of the brain, and thus on the development of psychopathology. Children with Sex Chromosome Trisomies (SCT) have an abnormal number of X or Y chromosomes and may therefore be at risk for developmental problems, including internalizing problems. The present study aims to provide an answer to the question whether children aged 1 to 6 years with SCT have more internalizing symptoms than children without SCT, whether there is a difference between SCT karyotypes (XXX, XXY or XYY) and to what extent internalizing symptoms increase with age. This study included 29 children with XXX, 43 children with XXY, 20 children with XYY and 42 boys and 46 girls without SCT, all between the age of 1 to 6. These children’s parents completed the CBCL1-5 and a background-questionnaire while the WIPPSI-III was administered to the children. The study showed that children with SCT have an increased amount of internalizing symptoms compared to the control group. It also appears that there is a difference between the three SCT groups in degree of difference with the control group on internalizing symptoms. Finally, internalizing symptoms of children with SCT appear to have a stronger increase with age than the control group. In all three outcomes, it was also found that there is a difference between the SCT groups and between the SCT group and control group in which types of internalizing symptoms emerge. Thus, this study has shown that it is important to be aware of internalizing symptoms in young children, so that further development of these problems can be prevented. It is also important to keep in mind that internalizing problems manifest differently in these children, which makes it important to find a fitting intervention.Show less
