Psychosocial functioning of adolescents with idiopathic short stature or persistent short stature born small for gestational age during three years of combined growth hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To examine psychosocial functioning of medically referred adolescents with idiopathic short stature (ISS) or persistent short stature born small for gestational age (SGA) during 3 years of combined growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment.


METHODS
Thirty-eight adolescents participated in a controlled trial with GH/GnRHa treatment or no intervention. Each year the adolescents and their parents completed questionnaires and structured interviews. Multilevel analysis was used to analyze data.


RESULTS
The adolescents of the treatment group showed a worse outcome than the adolescents of the control group on 3 of 16 variables: perceived competence of scholastic (p < 0.01) and athletic ability (p < 0.05) and trait anxiety (p < 0.05). Adolescents in both the treatment and control groups perceived improved current height (p < 0.001) and self-appraisal of physical appearance (p < 0.05). The parents did not report changes in their children during treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The observation of some adverse psychological consequences as experienced by the adolescents indicates that it is useful to monitor psychosocial functioning during a combined GH/GnRHa treatment in adolescents with ISS or SGA. It is uncertain whether the hypothesized positive effects of the expected gain in final height by adulthood can sufficiently counterbalance possible short-term negative effects.
Visser-van Balen
Hanneke
H
Department of Pediatric Psychology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, The Netherlands. J.Visser-vanbalen@fss.uu.nl
Geenen
Rinie
R
Moerbeek
Mirjam
M
Stroop
Rutger
R
Kamp
Gerdine A
GA
Huisman
Jaap
J
Wit
Jan M
JM
Sinnema
Gerben
G
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011594:Psychometrics; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D013177:Sports; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C083781:LHRH, Ala(6)-Gly(10)-ethylamide-; D013006:Growth Hormone