title: Short Stature: Is It a Psychosocial Problem and Does Changing Height Matter?
abstract: Some proponents of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in growth hormone-sufficient children cite height, as an isolated physical characteristic, as being associated with psychosocial morbidity. Others question the reliability of the evidence underpinning the quality-of-life rationale for treatment as well as the bioethics of rhGH treatment. The following questions are addressed: (1) Is short stature an obstacle to positive psychosocial adjustment? and (2) Does increasing height with rhGH treatment make a difference to the person's psychosocial adaptation and quality of life? Three clinical case examples are used to illustrate the complexities associated with decision-making surrounding rhGH use.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluation & Research (CHEAR) Unit, Division of Child Behavioral Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: dsandber@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.affiliation: Child Health Evaluation & Research (CHEAR) Unit, Division of Child Behavioral Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone
keywords: Growth hormone; Height; Psychosocial adaptation; Short stature