Care of girls and women with Turner syndrome: beyond growth and hormones

• Published in: Endocrine Connections Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. R39 - R51
• Main Authors: Culen, Caroline, Ertl, Diana-Alexandra, Schubert, Katharina, Bartha-Doering, Lisa, Haeusler, Gabriele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Bioscientifica Ltd 01.05.2017; Bioscientifica
• Subjects: cognitive profile; development in Turner syndrome; health autonomy; psychological approach; psychosocial care in endocrinology; psychosocial recommendations in peadiatrics; Review; transition in endocrinological care; x-linked; x-linked; development in Turner syndrome; psychological approach; psychosocial care in endocrinology; health autonomy; psychosocial recommendations in peadiatrics; cognitive profile; transition in endocrinological care
• ISSN: 2049-3614; 2049-3614
• DOI: 10.1530/EC-17-0036

Turner syndrome (TS), although considered a rare disease, is the most common sex chromosome abnormality in women, with an incident of 1 in 2500 female births. TS is characterized by distinctive physical features such as short stature, ovarian dysgenesis, an increased risk for heart and renal defects as well as a specific cognitive and psychosocial phenotype. Given the complexity of the condition, patients face manifold difficulties which increase over the lifespan. Furthermore, failures during the transitional phase to adult care result in moderate health outcomes and decreased quality of life. Guidelines on the optimal screening procedures and medical treatment are easy to find. However, recommendations for the treatment of the incriminating psychosocial aspects in TS are scarce. In this work, we first reviewed the literature on the cognitive and psychosocial development of girls with TS compared with normal development, from disclosure to young adulthood, and then introduce a psychosocial approach to counseling and treating patients with TS, including recommendations for age-appropriate psychological diagnostics. With this work, we aim to facilitate the integration of emphasized psychosocial care in state-of-the-art treatment for girls and women with TS.