How anxiety starts and what predicts it in Fragile X syndrome

Emergence, stability, and predictors of anxiety in Fragile X syndrome

NIH-funded research University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11090419

This project looks at how and when anxiety begins and changes over time in children and adolescents with Fragile X syndrome to find early warning signs.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11090419 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

As a parent or patient, this project follows children with Fragile X over time with regular visits, interviews, and behavioral testing to track anxiety from preschool into middle childhood. The researchers compare kids with Fragile X to children with non-syndromic autism and typically developing children to find what is unique to Fragile X. They use clinical interviews, standardized questionnaires, and observational measures at multiple ages to identify early behaviors that predict later anxiety. Findings from the first funding period showed anxiety appears early and often in Fragile X, and this work extends that follow-up to understand stability and long-term outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are children and adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome (especially preschool to middle childhood) and families willing to take part in repeated assessments over time.

Not a fit: People without Fragile X syndrome or those unable/unwilling to participate in repeated visits or evaluations are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians spot anxiety earlier in people with Fragile X and guide development of targeted screening and early support.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work from the project's initial funding already showed early and common anxiety in Fragile X, so this extension builds on demonstrated findings while adding longer-term follow-up and predictive analysis.

Where this research is happening

Columbia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anxiety Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.