Emergence of compulsive behavior and tantrums in children with Prader-Willi syndrome

Many adults with Prader-Willi syndrome are affected by behaviors such as ta ntrums, skin-picking, and compulsions. The nature and extent of these probl ems suggest more attention be directed to their emergence in childhood. Our purpose was to investigate behavior problems in children with this syndrom e and identify the age at which these behaviors emerge. Parents of children with Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, and those developing typically completed questionnaires. Children with Prader-Willi syndrome exhibited mor e compulsions, skin-picking, and tantrums than did the other groups. A disc riminant analysis of behavior variables derived two statistically significa nt, functions that were interpreted as developmental milestones and problem atic behavior. These functions correctly predicted membership, for 79% of g rouped cases.