The quality of life and psychological, social and cognitive functioning of patients with acromegaly.
Acromegaly is a rare and chronic disease, most often caused by a pituitary adenoma. Excessive secretion of the growth hormone (GH) leads to hepatic secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which in turn causes characteristic changes in the patient's appearance, many skeletal deformities and metabolic disorders. In addition to somatic symptoms, acromegalic patients demonstrate psychosocial and personality deficits, as well as common co-occurrence of mental disorders. There are few studies investigating acromegaly in Poland. In recent years, the concept of quality of life has become fundamental to understanding health problems. Studies dealing with acromegaly likewise tend to include assessments of quality of life of patients suffering from this endocrinopathy.
Division of Consulting Psychiatry and Neurobiological Research, Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Dorota
D
Szcześniak
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Therapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Aleksandra
A
Jawiarczyk-Przybyłowska
Division of Consulting Psychiatry and Neurobiological Research, Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Joanna
J
Rymaszewska
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D015870:Gene Expression; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I