Evidence for social phobia and other psychiatric disorders in adults who were growth hormone deficient during childhood.
We assessed the psychiatric status of 21 growth hormone deficient (GHD) adults who had been treated with growth hormone (GH) for short stature during childhood. Eight individuals (38%) were found to have undiagnosed social phobia. On a psychometric battery, the scores of GHD subjects with social phobia corresponded closely to those of a matched group of psychiatric patients with social phobia. Because these psychiatric symptoms have deleterious effects on quality of life, social function, and productivity, the physician should be alert to obtain psychiatric assessment of patients with GHD.
Stabler
B
B
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7160, USA.
Tancer
M E
ME
Ranc
J
J
Underwood
L E
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010553:Personality Development; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment
D019382:Human Growth Hormone