Parents discuss experiences of anxiety in their child with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
Mood in Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome
Research has found very little differences in mood disorders when comparing children with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome to children without Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome with the same degree of intellectual disability. Children with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome may even be at lower risk of anxiety disorders.
However, some research suggests that this changes as individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome age and that there is a heightened risk of anxiety and depression during adolescence.
One particular study that focused on individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome over 14 years old indicated that 67.7% of individuals were ‘nervous, high-strung and tense’ while 64.5% were ‘too fearful and anxious’.
You can find out more about anxiety and signs of anxiety in individuals with intellectual disability by clicking on the link below.
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Anxiety Guide: A Guide for Parents
In 2017, research completed at the University of Birmingham indicated that individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome may be at heightened risk of experiencing panic disorder/agoraphobia (a fear of being in a situation that is difficult to escape from) and obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to other types of anxiety disorders. The heightened risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder may be explained by the repetitive behaviours that tend to be prevalent in individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. There is more information about repetitive behaviours in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome in the next section.
You can read more about this study by clicking the link below.
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There are also reports that suggest a heightened risk of aggression and temper outbursts in older individuals with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. These mood changes may persist throughout adulthood and become more prominent with age; although, far more research needs to be done to understand the nature of these changes and whether they affect everyone with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome or just a few.