Abstract

Studies of psychological and genetic factors underlying behavioral phenotypes in autism and intellectual disability are relevant for clinical psychology and medical genetics. A behavioral phenotype refers to a set of cognitive, communicative and social behavior features specific to a particular syndrome. Most common genetic conditions, such as Down, Williams or FRAXA syndromes, demonstrate specific behaviors and psychological attributes. However, despite diagnostic significance of behavioral phenotypes in intellectual disability, complex studies of intelligence, psychomotor and speech development are rare in genetic diseases, and are generally associated with assessments of individual cases. In this work, we overview psychological features of genetic syndromes associated with autism and intellectual disability. Additionally, attempts at studying children with genetic syndromes, aimed at more effective interventions and therapeutic programs, are discussed.