Cognition, Emotions and Quality of Life in Lithuanian Girls with Turner Syndrome after Growth Hormone Therapy Discontinuation

Abstract

Objective: to examine cognitive functions, emotional state and quality of life of patients with Turner syndrome (TS) after growth hormone therapy discontinuation. Patients and Methods: Anthropometric measurements, cognitive functioning, emotional state and quality of life of eighteen Lithuanian patients with TS were compared to that of age-and sex-matched controls. Height and weight of girls with TS were significantly lower than in the controls, though differences in body mass index were not significant. Results: Tension-anxiety (10.61±7.21 vs. 6.72±3.98, p=0.02) and depression-dejection (14.72±11.87 vs. 8.49±6.29, p=0.02) were significantly higher, vigor-activity (13.05±4.77 vs. 16.13± 4.36, p=0.04) was significantly lower and scores of cognitive functioning (53.18±29.46 vs. 26.79±7.31 and 96.94±44.59 vs. 58.07±15.43, p=0.001) were significantly higher (showing worse psychomotoric speed)in patients with TS than in the controls. Quality of life (9.53±5.19 vs. 6.35±4.19, p=0.03) in girls with TS was significantly worse than in healthy girls of the same age. Conclusion, patients with Turner syndrome are shorter, have lower weight, higher waistto-hip ratio, impaired cognitive functions (worse psychomotoric speed), altered emotional state (higher tension-anxiety and depression-dejection, lower vigor-activity scores) and lower quality of life than age-and sex-matched controls.

Assessment of Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression in Children with Turner Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

“…Our data showed grades of anxiety and depression scores in TS patients higher than the previous reports (Catinari et al, 2006;McCauley et al, 2011;Kilic et al, 2005;Lasaite et al, 2010;Cardoso et al, 2004); this could be explained by the small sample size in our study and the lack of facilities in our developing country which could detect and diagnose TS patients early with the lack of early interventions of any psychological issues in TS patients.…”

“…Many studies using parental evaluations and selfreport suggested psychiatric problems in girls and adolescents with TS, in the form of immaturity, diminished social relationships, poor self-concept, depression and social anxiety compared to age-matched controls (Saad et al, 2014;Catinari et al, 2006;McCauley et al, 2001;Kilic et al, 2005;Lasaite et al, 2010;Cardoso et al, 2004). These studies deeply investigated the psychopathological comorbidity in TS patients.…”

“…They reported that TS girls had significantly lower self-esteem and higher state anxiety levels when compared to control (p<0.05) (Kilic et al, 2005). Another study showed a lower quality of life, higher tension-anxiety scores and impaired cognitive functions in TS girls than agematched controls (Lasaite et al, 2010). Cardoso et al (2004) studied 100 TS patients, according to DSM IV.…”

“…In one report; the TS parents reported that TS girls were less socially competent than the controls (McCauley et al, 2001). Two studies (Kilic et al, 2005;Lasaite et al, 2010) reported that TS girls had significantly higher anxiety levels and impaired cognitive functions than age-matched controls. Another large study (Cardoso et al, 2004) reported that 52% of the TS women met criteria for a current or a past depressive or anxiety disorder and 18% of TS cases met criteria for psychiatric disorder, including major and minor depression and Anxiety.…”

“…Some studies have used parental evaluations and self-reporting for assessment of psychiatric issues in TS patients. They suggested psychiatric comorbidities especially anxiety and depression in TS patients (Catinari et al, 2006;McCauley et al, 2001;Kilic et al, 2005;Lasaite et al, 2010;Cardoso et al, 2004). In one report; the TS parents reported that TS girls were less socially competent than the controls (McCauley et al, 2001).…”