Behavioral and emotional problems in youngsters with Prader-Willi syndrome.

In this study we document the behavioral/emotional problems of 27 Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) subjects assessed with the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist. Compared with normal subjects of the same age and sex, PW subjects showed significantly more problem behaviour. Of the PWS subjects 87% had total problem scores in the clinical range. No significant difference was found in the proportion of Prader-Willi patients scored in the clinical range on the Internalizing over the Externalizing syndrome. The need for systematic attention towards behavioral/emotional problems when PWS patients enter adolescence is emphasized.