title: [Acromegaly: recognition of a rare disease in psychiatric practice].
abstract: Acromegaly is a rare disease which is caused by a tumour in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The tumour stimulates excessive production of the growth hormone. As a result, all the organs and tissues in the body are induced to grow. This growth is responsible for a wide range of symptoms, some of which can be neuro-psychiatric.<br/> AIM: To promote the early detection of acromegaly so that treatment can be started as soon as possible and further damage can be prevented.<br/> METHOD: We searched PubMed for articles relating to quality of life and cognitive, psychological and psychiatric symptoms and personality changes associated with acromegaly.<br/> RESULTS: We describe the pathophysiology and epidemiology of acromegaly. Then we present the characteristic, external changes, neuro-cognitive complications, psychiatric disorders, personality changes and relevant comorbid somatic symptoms. Acromegaly is a disease in which patients, long before being diagnosed, present with cognitive and affective disorders. Before patients are diagnosed, they have often visited several consultants in connection with their nonspecific symptoms.<br/> CONCLUSION: We believe that in everyday practice patients with acromegaly are frequently misdiagnosed. If patients present with extensive somatic co-morbidity and treatment-resistant depression and particularly if these symptoms are combined with the typical external features of acromegaly, then acromegaly can be suspected and further investigation should proceed without delay.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Kort
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Postulart
authors.forename: G A A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wetzer
authors.forename: S H P P
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Roerink
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone