Long-term psychosocial consequences of hormone treatment for short stature.
OBJECTIVE
To examine psychosocial functioning of young adults with idiopathic short stature or short stature born small for gestational age after growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment in early adolescence or no intervention.


METHODS
Thirty young adults (18 treated, 12 untreated; age 17-23 years; on average 5.5 years after the end of treatment) completed questionnaires regarding perceived competence and psychological distress. They and their parents were interviewed on social circumstances, height-related psychosocial stressors and parental worries about prospects in society.


RESULTS
Height gain was on average 2.3 cm more for the treated than for the untreated group. On none of the psychosocial variables differences were found between treated and untreated participants. Compared to Dutch population norms, psychological and social functioning was normal.


CONCLUSIONS
GH/GnRHa treatment, with arrest of pubertal development and lower than expected effects on final height, is not observed to lead to long-term negative or positive effects. Both treated and untreated participants go well through the psychosocial transition period of young adulthood. This suggests that, in the long term and independent of hormone treatment, adequate psychosocial adjustment is expected in case of short stature.
Visser-van Balen
Hanneke
H
Department of Pediatric Psychology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands. J.Visser-vanbalen@fss.uu.nl
Geenen
Rinie
R
Kamp
Gerdine A
GA
Huisman
Jaap
J
Wit
Jan M
JM
Sinnema
Gerben
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone