PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS OF NONRETARDED PHENYLKETONURICS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (3) , 106-113
Abstract
The effect of phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot be restricted merely to the intellectual function of the CNS. Because of increasing evidence that PKU''s present different personality problems, this study was undertaken to learn the personality characteristics of 19 nonretarded PKU''s, their 27 unaffected siblings and 36 parents as reflected in their MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) profiles. Results indicated increased incidence of psychopathology in male PKUs and, to a lesser extent, unaffected male siblings. No consistent trend toward psychopathology was found in female PKU, female siblings or in parents. Personality profiles indicating significant psychopathology were more frequently encountered among adult male PKU than among adolescent male PKU. Apparently, heterozygous parents of phenylketonurics do not manifest psychopathological personality characteristics and male offspring of heterozygous mothers have a higher risk of developing psychopathology than have female children.