[Psychosomatic aspects of growth retardation]

Emotional deprivation is one of the possible causes of failure to thrive. Deprivation dwarfism is also associated with growth hormone deficiency, which disappears when the child is removed from his harmful environment. This phenomenon may constitute a pertinent model for etiopathogenic studies in child psychosomatics with particular emphasis on exploration of the linkage between biological, environmental and psychic factors.