Psychosocial growth retardation in adolescence. A reversible condition secondary to severe stress

Two cases of psychosocial growth retardation in adolescents are presented, along with a brief review of the literature. Both cases were females, aged 12-13 years, who showed marked deceleration of growth and development when placed in an emotionally stressful situation. A normal pattern of growth and development ensued when the stressful situation was at least partially alleviated. To facilitate proper management, it is important to recognize those adolescents with psychosocial growth retardation. The increased availability of human growth hormone (hGH) may place more pressure on physicians to use exogenous hGH in adolescents who exhibit growth retardation. It appears that the administration of exogenous hGH is not indicated in the treatment of children with psychosocial growth retardation.