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Fluid intelligence, traits of personality and personality disorders in a cohort of adult KS patients with the classic 47, XXY karyotype

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Abstract

Purpose

Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) is associated with specific neurobehavioral features and personality traits. The aim of our study was to investigate fluid intelligence, personality traits and personality disorders (PD) and possible correlations with testosterone in a cohort of adult KS patients.

Methods

We analyzed 58 adult KS patients with the classic 47, XXY karyotype. The Structured Clinical Interview for axis II disorders was used to assess DSM IV personality disorders. Personality traits were assessed using MMPI-2. Fluid intelligence was tested by using Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) Test. Testosterone blood concentration was measured by CMIA.

Results

PD prevalence was 31%. Four altered MMPI scales (Social Responsibility, Dominance, Ego Strength and Repression) were found in more than 40% of patients. Overcontrolled hostility and MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised scales were altered in the PD− group only. Biz-Odd Thinking and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder scale were associated with the presence of personality disorder. The raw SPM score was 44 ± 10.8 without any significant correlation with testosterone. No significant difference in mean age, SPM raw score and MMPI score was observed between eugonadal, hypogonadal and treated patients.

Conclusions

Most KS patients had average fluid intelligence. PD prevalence was higher than in the general population. Testosterone was not correlated with fluid intelligence, personality traits or PD, but a reduction in marital distress was observed in treated patients. This could suggest that testosterone therapy can improve physical symptoms and this effect could also improve relationship abilities and wellness awareness.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Marie-Hélène Hayles for the language revision.

Author information

Author notes

  1. D. Liberato and S. Granato contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    D. Liberato, D. Grimaldi & G. Cavaggioni

  2. Section of Medical Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy

    S. Granato, F. M. Rossi, N. Tahani, D. Gianfrilli, A. Anzuini, A. Lenzi & A. F. Radicioni

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  1. D. Liberato
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  2. S. Granato
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Granato.

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Funding

This study was partly funded by the Italian Ministry of Health and the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA): research project MRAR08Q009 on rare diseases.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Liberato, D., Granato, S., Grimaldi, D. et al. Fluid intelligence, traits of personality and personality disorders in a cohort of adult KS patients with the classic 47, XXY karyotype. J Endocrinol Invest 40, 1191–1199 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0674-2

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