Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism
08:03

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Published on: July 5, 2014

Compulsive behavior in Prader-Willi syndrome: examining severity in early childhood

A Dimitropoulos1, J Blackford, T Walden

  • 1Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 40 Temple Street, 7th Floor, Suite I, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. anastasia.dimitropoulos@yale.edu

Research in Developmental Disabilities
|June 14, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) show more severe ritualistic behaviors than typically developing children. Non-food compulsions in PWS are linked to eating behaviors, suggesting a shared neurobiological cause.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder causing hyperphagia and food obsessions.
  • Individuals with PWS, including children, display both food and non-food compulsions.
  • Ritualistic behaviors are common in preschoolers, but their severity in PWS is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the severity of ritualistic behaviors in preschoolers with PWS to those in typically developing children.
  • To investigate the relationship between non-food ritualistic behavior and hyperphagia in PWS.
  • To explore potential shared neurobiological mechanisms underlying compulsivity and hyperphagia in PWS.

Main Methods:

  • Parental questionnaires assessed rituals and eating behaviors in children with PWS, typically developing children, and children with developmental delays.
  • Data were collected from 68 children with PWS, 86 typically developing children, and 57 children with developmental delays.

Main Results:

  • Children with PWS exhibited more severe ritualistic behaviors compared to typically developing children.
  • No significant difference in ritual severity was found between children with PWS and children with other developmental delays.
  • The severity of non-food rituals correlated with the severity of eating behaviors in children with PWS.

Conclusions:

  • Ritualistic behaviors are more severe in children with PWS than in typically developing peers.
  • The association between hyperphagia and non-food compulsivity in PWS may stem from common neurobiological underpinnings.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms linking hyperphagia and compulsivity in PWS.

More Related Videos

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice06:50

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: December 24, 2013

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice07:38

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal01:26

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Anal

Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development describes the anal stage as occurring between 18 months and three years of age. During this period, children derive pleasure from controlling and releasing their bowel movements. However, they quickly learn that societal expectations impose restrictions on when and where this can happen. This stage marks a critical point where children begin to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodily functions, as well as their broader...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder01:28

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...