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Executive Function in Young Males with Klinefelter (XXY) Syndrome with and without Comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2011

Nancy Raitano Lee ,
Gregory L. Wallace ,
Liv S. Clasen ,
Rhoshel K. Lenroot ,
Jonathan D. Blumenthal ,
Samantha L. White ,
Mark J. Celano  and
Jay N. Giedd
Nancy Raitano Lee*
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Gregory L. Wallace
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Liv S. Clasen
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Rhoshel K. Lenroot
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Jonathan D. Blumenthal
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Samantha L. White
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Mark J. Celano
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
Jay N. Giedd
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Nancy Raitano Lee, National Institute of Mental Health; NIH, Bldg. 10, 4C110, MSC-1367, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-1600. E-mail: lnancy@mail.nih.gov
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Abstract

Deficits in executive function (EF) are reported to occur in individuals with Klinefelter syndrome (XXY). The degree of impairment, if any, is variable and the nature of these deficits has not been clearly elucidated in young males. In this report, we (a) examine EF skills using multiple tasks in a non-clinic referred group of youth with XXY, (b) describe the extent of EF weaknesses in XXY when this group is compared with typical males of a similar SES or typical males with similar verbal abilities, and (c) evaluate the contribution of comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to EF skills. The sample included 27 males with XXY (ages 9–25), 27 typically developing age- and vocabulary-matched males, and 22 age- and socioeconomic status-matched males. EF tasks included Verbal Fluency, the Trail Making Test, and the CANTAB Spatial Working Memory and Stockings of Cambridge tasks. Mixed model analysis of variance was used to compare the groups on EF tasks and revealed a main effect of group but no group by task interaction. Overall, the XXY group performed less well than both control groups, but performance did not differ significantly as a function of task. ADHD comorbidity in males with XXY was related to poorer EF skills. (JINS, 2011, 17, 522–530)

Keywords

Sex chromosomesNeuropsychologyCognitionAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderWorking memoryProblem solvingXXY Klinefelter syndromeXY Typically developing malesSES Socioeconomic statusEF Executive functionCANTAB Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated BatterySS Standard Score
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , May 2011 , pp. 522 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2011

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Footnotes

Conflict of Interest Statement: No conflicts declared.

References

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