Psychological features of acromegaly

Psychother Psychosom. 1998;67(3):147-53. doi: 10.1159/000012275.

Abstract

Acromegaly is a serious but often undiagnosed condition that is often unrecognized for many years. The delay from onset of symptoms until the time of diagnosis results in a unique constellation of physical and mental problems for patients and health care professionals. The purpose of this chapter is to identify the psychological consequences experienced by individuals affected with pituitary tumors which alter growth hormone release. As little research has been completed on the subject, very little is known, or has been applied, in the treatment of these patients. To identify the presence of psychological features, the research which exists and an in-depth qualitative analysis of the personal experience of one of the author (K.F.), having suffered a pituitary macroadenoma with accompanying acromegaly, is described. Our findings are compared with those from an earlier series and the few published reports.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / psychology*
  • Adenoma / psychology
  • Growth Hormone / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory
  • Mental Disorders / etiology*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / psychology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology

Substances

  • Growth Hormone