Impact of growth hormone (GH) therapy on quality of life along the lifespan of GH-treated patients.

The relationship between growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) and quality of life (QOL) is coming into sharper focus. Psychological studies of short GHD children referred for GH treatment sometimes show that they have a poor QOL, often due to their feelings of anxiety, depression, social isolation and difficulties maintaining attention. These difficulties may lead to low academic achievement and impoverished interpersonal skills, both of which impact on life satisfaction and productivity.