Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Jenner, LivJoy Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, former Research Specialist and current Graduate Assistant Christina Koenig, and mentor Dr. Jessica Klusek on the publication of their new article in Frontiers in Psychiatry: “Psychiatric Difficulties in Females with Fragile X Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.”
This publication is the first systematic review and meta-analysis focused specifically on psychiatric difficulties in females with Fragile X syndrome (FXS).
Key Findings
- Research on males has historically outnumbered female-focused studies by approximately 4:1, emphasizing the need for greater attention to females with FXS.
- Across 37 studies, females with FXS experience high rates of psychiatric difficulties, with anxiety emerging as the most common concern (57%), followed by depression (41%), ADHD (33%), aggression (20%), and self-injury (14%).
- Co-occurring autism was consistently associated with increased psychiatric vulnerability, whereas intellectual ability was not a reliable predictor of psychiatric outcomes.
- The authors emphasize that improving recognition of anxiety, depression, and ADHD is essential to promoting independence, well-being, and quality of life for females with FXS.
The study challenges the long-held perception that females with FXS are simply more mildly affected than males, demonstrating instead that their presentation is different—not necessarily milder. Rather than having fewer challenges, females often experience distinct psychiatric and behavioral profiles that have been underrecognized because research has historically focused on males.
Congratulations again to Dr. Lauren Jenner, Christina Koenig, Dr. Jessica Klusek, and the entire research team on this contribution to the field! You can read the article here Frontiers | Psychiatric difficulties in females with fragile X syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analyses.