PSYCHOLOGICAL-ASPECTS OF THE PRADER-WILLI -SYNDROME - RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF PARENTS BY MAIL

Forty-six parents of children and adolescents with Prader-Willi syndro me reported on the social and emotional behavior of their children and on parenting stress. Standardized questionnaires were used, e.g. a Ge rman behavioral questionnaire for preschool children and the Child Beh avior Checklist. The results showed a high frequency of problem behavi ors, including stubbornness, temper tantrums, obsessions and underacti vity. In comparison to age norms, 40% of the preschool children were s ocially immature and 20% had social adaptation problems. Among the sch ool-age children 70% had social adaptation problems. More than 70% of the mothers reported a high level of parenting stress acid are in need of psychological counseling.