The psychological state of children with syndrome of biologically inactive growth hormone

Abstract

Background. The purpose was to study the psychological state of children with syndrome of biologically inactive growth hormone (SBIGH) and to evaluate the effect of speci­fic growth­stimulating therapy on improving the psychosocial adaptation of patients in society. Materials and methods. The study involved 46 children with SBIGH during puberty, including 30 boys and 16 girls. To investigate the psychological state of children with SBIGH, the patients were examined on the scale of depression self­esteem prior to the application of specific hormonal growth­stimulating therapy and 6 months after continuous treatment. The control group consisted of 25 healthy children. Results. Our testing showed that 72 % of the respondents with SBIGH had a predisposition to depression, while among healthy children, this index was only 24 %. When the treatment was initiated using recombinant growth hormone and gonadotropin­releasing hormone analogues for 6 consecutive months in children with short stature, and when a higher rate of growth in them was reached, the susceptibi­lity to depression remained only in 27.6 % of patients. Conclusions. Short stature among children with SBIGH results in a lower self­esteem and manifestations of depression. The treatment of children using recombinant growth hormone with motivation for a positive growth effect significantly improves their psychological state and adaptation in society. It is recommended to conduct a questionnaire survey of patients with SBIGH on the scale of depression self­esteem, and in the presence of manifestations of a tendency to depressive state, it is advisable to consult with a medical psychologist or specialist in psychosomatic medicine.

Keywords

• syndrome of biologically inactive growth hormone
• children
• psychological state
• depression
• recombinant growth hormone