Emotional outcome of adolescents and young adults with early and continuously treated phenylketonuria.
Sullivan JE.
University of Minnesota, USA. jzsulliv@nmh.org
OBJECTIVE: To assess the emotional functioning of adolescents and young adults with early and consistently treated phenylketonuria (PKU). METHODS: Twenty PKU-affected participants, ages 14-25, were compared with age-matched chronically ill (n = 17) and peer (n = 16) controls on a structured clinical interview, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-2. Affected participants and nonparticipants were assessed using a multidomain assessment of functioning interview. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups for observable psychiatric disorders or emotional and functional symptoms. No significant differences were found in self-concept. Although there were no differences between groups for IQ or treatment variables, PKU-affected participants were more likely than nonparticipants to have sought help for psychological concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that early-treated PKU-affected adolescents and young adults do not show a higher risk for psychological disturbance than appropriate controls.
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PMID: 11700332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]