Psychological effects of withdrawal of growth hormone therapy from adults with growth hormone deficiency.
OBJECTIVE
Growth hormone (GH) is known to be required for physical well-being. Although it is also widely believed to be important for quality of life (QoL) and psychological health, there is less supportive evidence. The objective of this study was to investigate the psychological effects of discontinuation of GH replacement from adults with severe GH deficiency (GHD).


METHODS
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which GH replacement therapy was discontinued for 3 months from 12 of 21 GH-deficient adults, where nine continued with GH replacement.


METHODS
GH-treated adults (10 men, 11 women), all with severe GHD (peak GH < 7.7 mU/l on provocative testing), mean age 44.9 years (range 25-68 years).


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were given at baseline and end-point plus questionnaires that included a new hormone-deficiency specific, individualized, QoL questionnaire (HDQoL), the General Well-being Index (GWBI), the Well-being Questionnaire (W-BQ12), the Short-Form 36 health status questionnaire (SF-36), the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).


RESULTS
Three months after baseline the serum total IGF-I of placebo-treated patients fell from normal, age-related levels (mean 26.6 +/- 13.2 nmol/l) to levels indicative of severe GHD (11.6 +/- 6.6 nmol/l) (P<0.001). Psychological symptoms of GH withdrawal, reported in interviews at end-point by placebo-treated patients, included decreased energy, and increased tiredness, pain, irritability and depression. Patients who believed they knew which treatment they had received correctly identified the treatment (GH or placebo) at end-point (chi2=11.25, P<0.01). Significant between-treatment-group differences in change scores were found for SF-36 General Health (P<0.01), W-BQ12 Energy (P<0.01) and HDQoL do physically (P<0.05), indicating reduced general health, reduced energy and greater perceived impact of hormone deficiency on physical capabilities in the placebo-treated group at end-point relative to GH-treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Withdrawal of GH treatment from adults with severe GH deficiency has detrimental psychological effects.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I