Efect of a controlled diet program on behavioral-emotional disorders in patients with phenylketonuria

Abstract

Introduction: Phenylketonuria is a disorder due to deficiency of the phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme. Delay or untreatement would cause impacts on motor-cognitive and individual-social skills. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a controlled diet program on behavioral-emotional disorders in patients with phenylketonuria. Materials and Methods: In a quasi-experimental study, 60 patients with phenylketonuria referred to Hazrate Masoumeh Hospital in Qom (the seventh largest city in Iran) were studied. The data were collected using parents;#39 strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to assess the status of behavioral-emotional disorders in patients by one of parents. Data were collected before and after - a three-months controlled diet- intervention. Results: The mean of phenylalanine in the patients was 12.81 ± 5.89 mg/dl before intervention and was decreased to 11.88 ± 6.8 mg/dl after intervention and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.018). The most significant effect of intervention was on increase of prosocial behaviors equal to 45%, reduction of conduct problems 38.3%, reduction of hyperactivity-attention deficit problems by 35%, decrease of emotional symptoms by 35% (p