The impact of long-term therapy by a multidisciplinary team on the education, occupation and marital status of growth hormone deficient patients after termination of therapy

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) Vol. 27; no. 2; p. 191
• Main Authors: Galatzer, A, Aran, O, Beit-Halachmi, N, Nofar, E, Rubitchek, J, Pertzelan, A, Laron, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.1987
• Subjects: Educational Status; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Growth Hormone - therapeutic use; Humans; Hypopituitarism - psychology; Hypopituitarism - rehabilitation; Hypopituitarism - therapy; Intelligence; Male; Marriage; Occupations; Patient Care Team; Psychotherapy; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0300-0664
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1987.tb01144.x

Forty-two GH deficient patients (14 isolated GH deficiency (IGHD), 28 multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD), 23 males and 19 females) were evaluated after termination of hGH therapy and achievement of final height. IGHD patients were found to score higher in intelligence quotients (IQ) than the MPHD patients. The educational and occupational achievements of all patients positively correlated with their IQ level. Three patients achieved only elementary education, 26 completed high school and 13 had higher education. Thirty patients who had completed their education were employed, whereas 12 continued to study. Seventeen of the male patients and five females served in the Army. Eight patients were married and half of the single patients reported having a stable relationship with the opposite sex. The hypopituitary patients did not differ in five out of seven subscales of the human services rehabilitation scale when compared to a normal control group. These results which vary from those previously reported demonstrate the importance of long-term psychosocial counselling initiated at the time of diagnosis as part of the therapeutic approach in hypopituitary patients.