The views of young adults and their parents on hormone treatment for short stature in adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the view of young adults and their parents on growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment in adolescence for idiopathic short stature (ISS) or short stature born small for gestational age (SGA).


METHODS
Thirty young adults with ISS or SGA (18 treated, 12 untreated; age 17-23 years; 5.5 years after treatment) completed questionnaires and they and their parents were interviewed.


RESULTS
Self-perceived current psychosocial functioning did not differ between the treated and untreated young adults, but several treated participants perceived psychosocial problems during adolescence. Most treated participants would have chosen again to receive hormone treatment, but they mentioned disadvantages of the treatment and were, as well as untreated participants, reticent upon recommending hormone treatment to others.


CONCLUSIONS
GH/GnRHa treatment did not appear to have adverse long-term psychosocial consequences and the participants were glad to have taken the opportunity to receive hormone treatment. However, the treated group mentioned several disadvantages of the treatment and perceived some height-related psychosocial problems during adolescence. In considering hormone treatment, the positive as well as the negative aspects of the treatment as perceived by the participants are to be taken into consideration.
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
Looij
Janneke
J
Huisman
Jaap
J
Wit
Jan M
JM
Sinnema
Gerben
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires