Autistic spectrum disorders in velo-cardio facial syndrome (22q11.2 deletion).

The team looked at kids who have both velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) and autism. They wanted to know if the double diagnosis changes the picture of other mental-health problems and brain shape.

They used brain scans and parent interviews to compare two small groups: VCFS plus autism, and VCFS without autism.

Almost every child with VCFS plus autism (94 %) also had another psychiatric diagnosis, such as ADHD or anxiety. In the VCFS-only group the rate was lower, about 60 %.

Brain scans showed a bigger right amygdala only in the autism group. Other brain areas looked the same between the two groups.

Merrill (2004) first mapped the wide behavioral profile of VCFS—high rates of ADHD, social withdrawal, and later schizophrenia risk. The new data narrow the lens, showing that adding autism pushes psychiatric comorbidity even higher.

Niklasson et al. (2009) counted 44 % of their larger 22q11 sample meeting criteria for ASD or ADHD, a figure that sits close to the 94 % comorbidity reported here. The numbers differ because Lena included ADHD alone, while M et al. counted any second diagnosis in kids who already had autism.

Furniss et al. (2011) later summarized cognitive strengths and deficits in VCFS but did not mention amygdala size. The current study adds a concrete neuroanatomic marker—enlarged right amygdala—that may help explain emotional-behavioral volatility in the ASD subgroup.

When a learner has VCFS, always screen for autism. If autism is present, expect almost every child to carry an extra psychiatric label and plan for multidisciplinary care. The enlarged right amygdala is a red flag you can share with medical teammates, but behaviorally, focus on the high chance of ADHD, anxiety, or mood symptoms that will need their own plans.