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[Psychogenic growth retardation. Critical study of diagnostic data]
Insights
Diagnosing psychosocial deprivation dwarfism is challenging. A trial placement in a foster home for at least three months is the most effective method for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Psychosocial deprivation dwarfism presents diagnostic challenges.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment, often involving environmental changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of foster home placement in diagnosing psychosocial deprivation dwarfism.
- To identify clinical, biological, and psychological factors associated with treatment response.
Main Methods:
- Studied 34 children and adolescents (9 months to 17 years) with severe growth deficiency suspected to be due to psychosocial deprivation.
- Children were placed in foster institutions with medical and psychological support for at least three months.
- Clinical, biological, and psychological data were collected and compared between responders and non-responders.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in growth rate was observed in 24 out of 34 cases, confirming the diagnosis.
- 10 cases showed no growth improvement, making the diagnosis unlikely.
- No significant differences in initial criteria were found between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- A trial of at least three months in a foster home, based on clinical and psychological assessment, is the most reliable method for diagnosing psychosocial deprivation dwarfism.
- Biological data alone are insufficient for diagnosis; environmental intervention is key.
- This approach aids in appropriate long-term therapeutic decisions for affected children.
Abstract:
The diagnosis of psychosocial deprivation dwarfism is difficult. It is also of practical importance since it leads to the only one appropriate treatment: the decision to send the child in a new environment, foster institution or foster family. The present work reports the clinical, biological and psychologic characteristics of 34 children and adolescents aged 9 months to 17 years, in whom a severe growth deficiency had been considered as probably related to psychosocial deprivation, and who were thus sent in foster institutions with good medical and psychological support. The result was in 24 cases a sharp increase of growth rate, giving confirmation of the diagnosis suspected, and in 10 a failure, making this diagnosis unlikely. A comparison of these two groups does not demonstrate any significantly different criterion. The conclusion suggested is thus the following: a trial of at least three months in a foster home, decided on concordant clinical and psychological data, without regard to the biological data, is the only way for distinguishing the truly and falsely deprivation-related dwarfism, or at least to give appropriate support for long-term therapeutic decisions.