Abstract
We have recently shown the psychosocial status of short normal pre-pubertal children to be unimpaired provided selection bias is avoided. In order to evaluate the psychological effects of treatment in this community based group, 15 short normal children <3rd centile, age 7-8 yrs were assessed before and after 3 yrs on growth hormone (GH), together with age and sex matched normal controls (10-90th centile) and short controls (<3rd centile). No significant differences between groups were found on psychometric testing at the start. After 3 years, mean change in height SDS was significant in the treated group only (−2.44 to −1.17 SDS). However, no significant differences in the following psychometric tests were found between groups: IQ British Ability Scales (BAS) (p=0.53), Number Skills BAS (p=0.44), Reading Skills BAS (p=0.58), Culture Free Self Esteem Inventory (p=0.62), Behaviour Scales (Butter) for Teachers (p=0.87) and for Parents (p=0.64). The reported incidence of teasing or bullying did not differ between any groups. In these well adjusted short children, while growth responded well to GH, no discernable psychological benefits could be demonstrated at this pre-pubertal age, nor, in contrast to some reports, were mood or behaviour adversely affected by the need for daily injections or perceived treatment ‘failure’. Most overestimated their present height. Furthermore 90% of those on treatment, but also 50% of those untreated optimistically anticipated being average or even tall adults. This ongoing study will show whether this discrepancy between expectation and reality leads to psychological problems in future years.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Voss, L., Mulligan, J., McCaughey, E. et al. SHORT NORMAL STATURE - PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO GROWTH HORMONE TREATMENT. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S57 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00321
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00321