NCJ Number
56673
Journal
RESEARCH RESOURCES REPORTER Volume: 2 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 1-6
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHOSOMATIC SYNDROME OF REVERSIBLE GROWTH FAILURE IS ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CHILD ABUSE. IT IS MARKED BY LOW GROWTH HORMONE LEVELS, DISTURBED SLEEP PATTERNS, AND, OFTEN, ABERRANT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE SYNDROME HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED VARIOUSLY AS DEPRIVATION DWARFISM, MATERNAL DEPRIVATION, FAILURE TO THRIVE, EMOTIONAL DWARFISM, AND REVERSIBLE HYPOSOMATOTROPISM. CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM THIS SYNDROME HAVE ABNORMALLY LOW LEVELS OF GROWTH HORMONE WHEN GIVEN BLOOD TESTS UPON ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL. HOWEVER, AFTER ONLY DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL (USUALLY CONSIDERED A STRESSFUL SITUATION FOR CHILDREN), THE HORMONE LEVELS INCREASE DRAMATICALLY AND OFTEN THESE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN 'CATCH UP' GROWTH SPURT. RESEARCHERS AT THE YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, AND THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PEDIATRIC CLINICAL RESEARCH UNIT HAVE ALL LINKED THE SYNDROME TO EITHER PHYSICAL OR SEVERE EMOTIONAL ABUSE. THE SYNDROME IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERELY DISTURBED SLEEP PATTERNS. IN A FEW DOCUMENTED CASES THE CHILDREN ACTUALLY SURVIVED BY STAYING AWAKE UNTIL THE REST OF THE HOUSEHOLD WAS ASLEEP AND THEN FORAGING FOR FOOD OR WATER. IN OTHER CASES THE LACK OF SLEEP SEEMED DUE TO FEAR THAT ABUSE WOULD TAKE PLACE AT NIGHT. SINCE GROWTH HORMONE IS NORMALLY SECRETED DURING SLEEP, THESE DISTURBED PATTERNS WOULD EXPLAIN THE DWARFISM. THE COMPLEX PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF THE FAMILY ARE DIFFICULT FOR INVESTIGATORS TO UNRAVEL BECAUSE OF PARENTAL DEFENSIVENESS. HOWEVER, THE CURE FOR THE SYNDROME IS LENGTHY REMOVAL FROM THE HOME. (GLR)