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Psychological Outcome in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

  • Conference paper
Therapeutic Outcome of Endocrine Disorders

Part of the book series: Serono Symposia USA ((SERONOSYMP))

Abstract

Studies of psychological outcome in congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH) are important for three reasons.* First, this information helps in the medical management of the patients, as well as in educating patients and their families about the likely course and consequences of the disease. This is a particular concern in CAH because changes in physical appearance and growth (including virilization in girls and short stature in both boys and girls) may affect psychological development. Second, CAH provides a unique opportunity to examine the effects of prenatal and neonatal hormones on the development of the brain and behavior because individuals with CAH are exposed to high levels of androgen beginning early in gestation and continuing throughout important periods for brain development. Thus, studies of CAH allow us to confirm studies in nonhuman mammalian species, which indicate that gonadal hormones play a major role in the development of sex differences in behavior and in the brain (1,2). Third, resolutions of controversies in the treatment of girls with CAH depend on adequate data. This includes the benefits versus the costs of prenatal treatment and the best age for surgical reconstruction of virilized genitalia. These issues have become increasingly important with the addition of CAH to many state and national newborn screening programs and the increased number of cases detected (3,4).

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Authors
  1. Sheri A. Berenbaum
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Brian Stabler Ph.D.

  2. Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine, University of South Florida, All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    Barry B. Bercu M.D.

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Berenbaum, S.A. (2000). Psychological Outcome in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. In: Stabler, B., Bercu, B.B. (eds) Therapeutic Outcome of Endocrine Disorders. Serono Symposia USA. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1230-0_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1230-0_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7052-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-1230-0

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