Behavioral evaluation of GH treatment in short statured children and adolescents: findings from a pilot study.
A cohort of 93 short-statured children and adolescents undergoing GH treatment were evaluated with respect to behavior, emotions, and attitudes. The sample consisted of patients suffering from either idiopathic GH deficiency or neurosecretory dysfunction (no.=47), Turner syndrome (no.=20), organic GH deficiency due to brain tumors (no.=10), or other etiologies (no.=16). The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) together with a brief Evaluation of Treatment Questionnaire (ETQ) were filled out by the patient's parents. These evaluations were performed at onset and after 12 and 24 months of GH treatment, respectively. There was a highly significant but clinically small decline of behavioral abnormalities over time and parents saw major benefits of GH treatment in the total group of patients. The behavioral changes over time were independent of diagnostic category, gender, height velocity, puberty and age.
Steinhausen
H C
HC
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland. steinh@kjpd.unizh.ch
Dörr
H G
HG
Malin
Z
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001290:Attitude; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009489:Neurosecretion / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy
D019382:Human Growth Hormone