Social and vocational adjustment of 38 hjgh deficent patients after termination of thearpy

Abstract

Thirty eight hGH deficient patients aged from 15 to 35 yrs in whom hGH therapy was stopped upon termination of growth, were re-evaluated for their social adjustment by personal interviews. Their characteristics are: The mean length of treatment period was 6.7 ± 3.2 (1.6-14) yrs, which had begun in 80% of the patients after age 9. It was found that 10 are students (7 in secondary school and 3 at the university); 7 are now serving in the army (another 6 completed army service); 18 have jobs with tenure; 3 are unemployed. Of the entire group, 4 (1 man, 3 women) are married. The successful social and vocational adjustment is attributed to the continuous multidisciplinary team approach these patients had received throughout their follow-up.