Growth hormone response patterns in sexually or physically abused boys |
| |
| Authors: | J B Jensen J J Pease R ten Bensel B D Garfinkel |
| |
| Affiliation: | Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455. |
| |
| Abstract: | The ratio of growth hormone response to clonidine and L-dopa challenge was compared in 74 boys: 15 with purported physical abuse, 7 with purported sexual abuse, 13 normal controls, and 39 psychiatric controls. Sexually abused boys demonstrate a statistically significant elevated ratio of growth hormone response to clonidine versus response to L-dopa. Physically abused boys demonstrate lower clonidine/L-dopa growth hormone response ratios compared with controls. These effects widen with increasing physical development. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
