title: Psychological and behavioural aspects in children and adolescents with congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed by neonatal screening: comparison between parents' and children's perceptions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the psychological adjustment and behaviour of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) children and their parents with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out with 84 CH subjects diagnosed by neonatal screening (range 2.7-18.6 years), subdivided into four age groups: group 1 (2-5 years); group 2 (6-10 years); group 3 (11-13 years); and group 4 (14-18 years) and was compared with an age-matched control group. Patients were assessed using two questionnaires: Child Behaviour Checklist for parents and Youth Self-Report for children over 11 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In groups 1, 3 and 4, total score (TS), internalising score (IS=problems within the self) and externalising score (ES=conflicts with other people) as reported by parents were not significantly different in CH patients and in controls. In group 2, parents of CH children showed values of TS (P<0.05), IS (P<0.05), ES (P<0.05) and scores on other scales significantly higher than controls. In self-reports of groups 3 and 4, the behavioural scales were not significantly different in CH patients and in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paediatricians should be informed about the increased risk of the development of behavioural problems at primary school age in CH patients. At this age special attention should be paid to parental worries and anxiety. However, it can be reassuring for the patients and parents to know that the problems may be related to CH, and that they may spontaneously disappear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecologic, Obstetric and Paediatric Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bisacchi
authors.forename: Milva Orquidea
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bettocchi
authors.forename: Graziana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Addabbo
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Alberton
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cicognani
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassio
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires