Psychoendocrinological studies in dwarfed children and adolescents

Thirty-two dwarfed children and adolescents were studied clinically, by laboratory assessment, by a battery of psychological tests and a structured interview. Growth hormone deficiency was present in 16 cases, but in the remaining 16 cases there was no endocrine disease. Dwarfed children differed from nornal controls in perception, and a specific personality pattern emerged in the dwarfed children. The effects of age, sex, and socioeconomic status on personality traits were similar for dwarfs as for controls. Intelligence and personality variable were similar in dwarfs with and without endocrine disease. However, symptoms of the psychoendocrine syndrome, namely appetite and thirst disturbances, hypersensitivities, and impulse reduction, were more frequently seen among hypopituitary dwarfs. Social and coping behaviour was impaired in the majority of dwarfs. It is concluded that psychological disturbance occuring inchildren of small stature is a response to being small and is not attributable to any endocrine effect

Estudo comparativo do nível de qualidade de vida entre sujeitos acondroplásicos e não-acondroplásicos Comparative study of quality of life level between achondroplasics and non-achondroplasics subjects

A acondroplasia é caracterizada como um distúrbio genético autossômico dominante que afeta a ossificação endocondral, constituindo uma das causas de nanismo. Entre as características está presente principalmente a baixa estatura e desproporção tronco/membros. Diante disso, o acondroplásico poderá se mostrar inferiorizado e insatisfeito com sua aparência física, influenciando, juntamente a outros fatores, na qualidade de vida (QV) dessa população. OBJETIVO: Comparar o nível de QV entre sujeitos acondroplásicos e não-acondroplásicos. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 21 indivíduos acondroplásicos, sendo nove homens e 13 mulheres, pareados por idade e gênero, a 21 não-acondroplásicos. O nível de QV foi estimado por meio do questionário WHOQOL-BREF. RESULTADOS: Na comparação entre sujeitos acondroplásicos e não acondroplásicos do gênero feminino constatou-se que no domínio físico as mulheres acondroplásicas apresentaram escore médio significativamente menor, enquanto na comparação entre os gêneros, o grupo de mulheres acondroplásicas apresentou escore médio significativamente menor que os homens acondroplásicos no domínio psicológico. CONCLUSÃO: No presente estudo, a QV não apresentou diferença entre os grupos, entretanto, nos domínios físico e psicológico, as mulheres acondroplásicas demonstraram menor satisfação com sua condição.<br>Achondroplasia is characterized as an autosomal dominant genetic disturbance which affects the endochondral ossification which is a common cause of dwarfism syndrome. Among the characteristics the most common are the short stature and disproportional trunk/limbs. Thus, the achondroplasic subjects can face themselves inferior and not satisfied with their physical appearance, influencing, among other factors, the quality of life of this population. OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality of life level between achondroplasic and non-achondroplasic subjects. METHODS: Study with 21 achondroplasics in which, nine were men and 13 women, paired by age and gender to 21 non-achondroplasic subjects. The quality of life level was estimated by WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. RESULTS: In the comparison between achondroplasic and non-achondroplasic females we verified that in physical domain achondroplasic women presented mean score significantly lower than non-achondroplasic. In the comparison between genders, achondroplasic females presented mean score significantly lower than achondroplasic males in psychological domain. CONCLUSION: In this study, the quality of life didn't present any difference between groups, however, in physical and psychological domains, achondroplasic women demonstrated less satisfaction to their condition