Question:
Male, 17 years old, Deletion Subtype
Nurse Lynn,
Can rectum picking be a genetic condition?
I’m aware of three instances of unusual behavior involving the rectum.
Nurse Lynn’s Response:
Rectal picking in individuals with PWS is not considered genetic in the traditional sense, meaning it is not directly caused by inherited genes specific to that behavior. However, it is a well-documented part of the behavioral phenotype associated with PWS and may be influenced by the individual’s genetic subtype. For example, those with the paternal deletion subtype tend to exhibit more skin-picking and self-injurious behaviors, while those with maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD) may experience more severe psychiatric or compulsive symptoms. This behavior may be driven by sensory-seeking tendencies, anxiety, or discomfort related to constipation or other gastrointestinal issues. Addressing the underlying causes is the first step, followed by structured sensory and behavioral strategies to help manage and reduce the behavior.
Resources:
I have linked some helpful information below
https://www.pwsausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Rectal-picking-poster-new.pdf
https://pittsburghpartnership.com/uploads/1/1/8/2/118281137/rectal_picking_algorithm_2017.pdf
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Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.