Psychopathologie en Pathogenese van enkele behavioural phenotypes

Description of psychopathological symptoms in mentally retarded subjects is of great heuristic value because of the association with a known genetic disorder as well as the heterogenous and atypical phenomenology. The concept of behavioural phenotypes postulates a specific relationship between gene defect and behaviour, although considerable overlap between syndromes and differences within syndromes concerning behavioural manifestations are frequently observed. Since syndrome specific psychiatric disorders can be established too, the term psychopathological phenotype seems to be appropriate.