ABSTRACT
Measures of quality of life (QOL) have been helpful in assessing patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) because these patients experience significant sources of stress and dysfunction both during childhood and over their lifespan, even after medical therapy is completed. Growth delay, short stature, and its accompanying psychosocial stressors have been the subject of much investigation by behavioral specialists (Stabler & Underwood, 1986, 1994). Several studies have illustrated the extent of dissatisfaction with life circumstance reported by many individuals with GHD (Bjork, Jonsson, Westphal, & Levin, 1989; Clopper, MacGillivray, Mazur, Voorhees, & Mills, 1986; Dean, 1990; Dean, McTaggart, Fish, & Friesen, 1986; Mitchell, Johnsen, Joyce, Libber, Plotnik, Migeon, & Blizzard, 1986). Nevertheless, there is little evidence that this body of knowledge has found its way into the everyday practice repertoire of clinical pediatric endocrinologists. Unless this picture changes, we may anticipate a continuing rate of disappointing psychosocial outcomes for a significant number of patients treated with growth hormone (GH) who do not receive comprehensive attention to their psychosocial needs.
