Psychosocial effects of short stature

Abstract

The treatment of children with short stature was revolutionized by the creation of recombinant growth hormone therapy. While it cannot be denied that therapy adds significant height to children who are growth hormone deficient, such treatment is both painful, requiring many injections for years, as well as extremely expensive, both for the children's parents as well as for medical health care for society. With the indications for growth hormone treatment expanding over the years to include children with short stature who are not growth hormone deficient, it is important to determine all potential benefits beyond the obvious physical effects in order to make efficient cost-benefit determinations on appropriate usage of growth hormone therapy. One aspect of possible benefits for these children with short stature may be psychological features, such as increased overall happiness and self-esteem that is gained with increased height. A review and analysis of literature was undertaken in order to determine what effect, if any, growth hormone therapy has on short children's psychosocial wellbeing.