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Excessive Picking in Prader-Willi Syndrome: A pilot study of phenomenological aspects and comorbid symptoms

Skin picking constitutes a minor diagnostic criterion for Prader-Willi syndrome and is considered to be a syndrome specific behaviour and part of a behavioural phenotype. This study surveyed different aspects and patterns of skin picking as well as related picking and pulling behaviours and compulsive and impulsive-aggressive symptoms. Parents of 37 individuals with PWS, aged 12 to 30 years, participated by completing questionnaires specially designed for the purpose of capturing specific features relevant to the clinical PWS picture. Two-thirds of the sample displayed skin picking with a frequency ranging from chronic to transient, episodic symptoms. Many individuals with skin picking also exhibited comorbid picking behaviours and individuals with excessive skin picking also had additional problems with frequent tantrums and violent outbursts.