Addressing fears of children with Williams syndrome: therapist and child behavior in the context of a novel play-and humor-infused exposure therapy approach

A Prospective Open-Label Trial of Buspirone for the Treatment of Anxiety in Williams Syndrome

Study Design: Prospective open-label trial. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine whether buspirone showed preliminary evidence of effectiveness, safety, and tolerability in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS). Methods: This is a 16-week, prospective, flexibly dosed, open-label trial of buspirone in 20 individuals with WS aged 5-65 years. The primary outcome measure was the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS). Results: Buspirone use (mean dose, 22.6 mg per day) was associated with a reduction in anxiety severity, with Cohen's d estimate of -4.02 for the PARS. All 18 participants who completed the study received the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement subscale score for anxiety of "much improved" or "very much improved." No serious or severe adverse events occurred during the trial, and no participants discontinued the study due to adverse events. Conclusion: Buspirone was safe and well tolerated. It was also associated with a reduction in anxiety severity. Given these findings, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of buspirone in WS is warranted.

The Effectiveness of Self-Narrative Art Therapy in Reducing (PTSD) Symptoms Among War-Affected Syrian Children

The Syrian civil war became a catalyst for numerous psychological issues, especially among children who faced migration and exposure to violence. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stands out as one of the most prevalent mental health problems among these young survivors. The research outcomes to be presented in this paper aim to investigate the efficacy of art therapy through the self-narrative approach in reducing PTSD symptoms among Syrian war-affected children aged 6 to 12. The study followed a semi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test, using a control group. Twenty Syrian children from war-affected areas were selected for high scores on the scale that measures the intensity of trauma symptoms. Half received an art therapy intervention. The results revealed that Self-Narrative Art-Therapy significantly contributed to reducing PTSD symptoms, including re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, and arousal, in Syrian war-affected children aged 6 to 12, making it a viable psychological intervention.

Psychiatric and behavioral manifestations of Williams syndrome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to synthesize recent advances in the psychiatric and behavioral manifestations of Williams syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome. Recent advances have focused on more deeply characterizing the social phenotype and developing social skill interventions, improving the assessment and treatment of anxiety, and exploring eating behaviors.

RECENT FINDINGS

The social cognitive phenotype in Williams syndrome, which consists of both high social drive and social cognition deficits, is present cross-culturally and may be related to reduced eye gaze. Social skills training for adults with Williams syndrome has demonstrated promise. Adapted exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy programs for children and adults respectively, have been piloted in Williams syndrome. The majority of adults with Williams syndrome are either underweight or overweight, and problematic food-related behaviors likely contribute to bodyweight status.

SUMMARY

Williams syndrome is associated with a number of core social and psychiatric difficulties which have a significant impact on functioning and quality of life. Recent work has begun to utilize a more nuanced understanding of the clinical presentations of these problems to develop interventions tailored to this unique population. However, larger trials, particularly those inclusive of a more diverse Williams syndrome population, are needed.