TRANSITION FROM ADOLESCENCE TO EARLY ADULTHOOD - ADAPTATION AND PSYCHIATRIC STATUS OF WOMEN WITH 47,XXX

Objective: To investigate the adolescent and early adult adaptation of a group of 47,XXX women as compared with their siblings, addressing d evelopmental differences in adaptation and psychiatric status. Method: Subjects included eleven 47,XXX women and nine female sibling control s. Interviews during adolescence and during early adulthood were semis tructured and included a psychiatric evaluation. Four areas of inquiry were (1) relationships with other family members, (2) sense of self-e steem, (3) sexual identity and preference, and (4) responses to life s tressors. A DSM-IV psychiatric diagnosis was assigned where appropriat e. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime ver sion was also administered, and assessments of overall functioning and adaptation were completed. Results: The 47,XXX women during adolescen ce and young adulthood were less well adapted; had more stress; had mo re work, leisure, and relationship problems; had a lower IQ; and showe d more psychopathology when contrasted with the comparison group. Howe ver, most of the 47,XXX women were self-sufficient and functioning rea sonably well, albeit less well than their siblings. Conclusions: This longitudinal study has clarified that previously reported outcomes of severe psychopathology and antisocial behavior in individuals with sex chromosome anomalies are rare and variability in the behavioral pheno type is much larger than originally appreciated.