Intervention for Social Skills Deficits in

Children with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

(VCFS)
Carrie E. Bearden, Ph.D.*, Maria Jalbrzikowski, Jennifer Ho,
Carolyn Chow, and Chelsea Anderson
Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and
Psychology
Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
University of California, Los Angeles
cbearden@mednet.ucla.edu
Phone: 310-206-2983
18th International Scientific Meeting of the VCFS
Educational Foundation
Newark, NJ July 15-17 2011

Presentation Outline
Characterization of social deficits in children nad
adolescents with 22qDS
Treatment approaches for social deficits
Exercise-induced brain plasticity
Neuroplasticity as a pre-requisite for treatment
response?
Development of a possible intervention

22q11.2
microdeletion

Autism
Psychosis
ADHD

Anxiety Disorders

OCD

22q11.2
microdeletion

Neural Features
-Anomalous myelination
- Dopamine Neurotransmission

Social Problems

Autism
Psychosis
ADHD

Anxiety Disorders

OCD

Philadelphia
(CHOP)

UCLA

Normal
Range

Atrisk

Psychosocial Profile of Children with 22q11DS: Child Behavior Checklist

Characteristic Social Deficits

Autistic Spectrum
Poor regulation of social interaction through eye contact, facial
expression, gesture, posture, intonation
Failure to develop age-appropriate peer relationships
Limited social-emotional reciprocity
Preoccupations/ restricted interests
Theory of mind/perspective-taking
Schizotypal Spectrum
Social anhedonia
Poor recognition of emotional expression
Excessive social anxiety
Cycle of bullying/teasing

Bearden et al. Cer Cortex 2009

Gray Matter Thinning in :
-anterior cingulate and medial frontal cortex (social cognition network)
-occipito-parietal cortex (visuospatial navigation)

Publications on Brain Imaging, Genetics and Cognition in

VCFS

We need more/better psychosocial

treatments for children and teens
with VCFS!!

Interventions for Social Deficits in ASD Using Peer Group

-Peer-mediated practice to improve social interactions for children with
autism during recess activities
-Peers are taught Pivotal Response Training (PRT) strategies: gaining
attention, varying activities, narrating play, reinforcing attempts, and
turn-taking

Number of independent
appropriate attempts for
social initiations/ gaining
attention directed at
peers

Treatment Rationale: Restorative Power of Exercise

-Link between hippocampal neurogenesis, stress-induced
behavioral changes, and beneficial effects of enriched
environment.
-Social stress in mice can cause behavior resembling human
depression
-Behaviors can be ameliorated if mice are in an environment
that promotes exercise and exploration.

-Beneficial effect of activity depended on the growth of new

neurons in the adult brain.

Additive effects of exercise and

environmental enrichment on adult
neurogenesis

Exercise also increases hippocampal

volume in patients with schizophrenia

Pajonk et al Arch Gen Psych 2010

Social Exercise Remediation Program

Exercise may provide the optimal platform in which
remediation effects can occur
New treatment will integrate social activities with
physical exercise program
While physical exercise can boost brain development,
social element may differentially improve social function
and self-esteem

Summary and Implications

Children with 22qDS are at increased risk for a variety of
psychiatric symptoms, and social deficits are a component
of many disorders
Poor social function very common in 22qDS- developmental
trajectory not clear
Early intervention can help!

Importance of Early Intervention

Screening of at risk groups for early signs of
illness
E.g., mammography, liver function tests, EKG

Invasiveness of intervention scales with

stage of illness

Longitudinal Study at UCLA :

Cognition and Brain Structure in
22q11.2DS

Acknowledgements
NIH/NICHD grant # P50-HD-055784 (CART Pilot
Project Grant to CEB), Consortium for
Neuropsychiatric Phenomics (RB), ARRA Award
1R01HD065280-01 (SB), RO1 MH085953 (CEB)

Lab Members:
Laurie Brenner
Maria Jarlbrkowski
Peter Bachman
Danielle Schlosser
Shauna Mc Manus
Sarah Jacobson
Jennifer Ho
Carolyn Chow
Jessica Hopkins
Nicole Enrique
Ivana Poste

Neurobehavioral
Genetics
Nelson Freimer
Giovanni Coppola

Department of Psychology
Theo van Erp
Katie Karlsgodt
Ty Cannon
Laboratory of NeuroImaging
Rebecca Dutton
Christina Boyle
Paul Thompson
Arthur Toga

Angela Matevoysan
Pegeen Cronin
Dan Geschwind
Mirella Dapretto
Susan Bookheimer

And most importantly.. THANK YOU!!

and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!