Physiological Indicators of Social Anxiety in Preschoolers with the Fragile X Premutation

The Fragile X premutation (FXpm) is a common genetic disorder often characterized by psychiatric impairments, including anxiety. It results from a trinucleotide repeat expansion (CGG) of 55-200 repeats on the FMR1 gene. Despite its association with psychiatric symptoms, there is limited research regarding the relationship between FXpm and anxiety, particularly social anxiety. Early detection of social anxiety is essential for timely intervention, yet it remains challenging to identify in young individuals with FXpm due to limited research. The present study aimed to bridge this gap by examining social anxiety in preschoolers with the FXpm, utilizing both a physiological and behavioral approach. Results indicated no significant difference in indicators of social anxiety between the FXpm and neurotypical (NT) groups.These findings suggest that RSA may not be a reliable biomarker of social anxiety in preschoolers with FXpm. This urges for further research across different age groups and utilizing alternative biomarkers of social anxiety.