ESPE Abstracts

Background: Precocious puberty (PP) in girls is defined by the appearance of secondary sex characteristic before the age of 8 years. Numerous studies reported no deficit of final adult height in girls with pubertal onset between 6-8 years compared with their genetic height, however, there were limited studies on the aspect of psychological outcomes of PP girls compare with the same age prepubertal girls.

Objective: To evaluate potential differences of the psychological characteristics in girls with PP compared to the same age prepubertal girls, at the time of diagnosis and six months follow-up

Methods: A prospective cohort was conducted in 6-8 years old girls and their parent, who attend in Pediatric OPD of Phramongkutklao hospital in 2020-2022. Girls were allocated into two groups according to pubertal status: the puberty (PP) group and the prepuberty (control) group. Three Thai-standardized questionnaires were used as psychological assessment tools, including Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI); completed by the girls, Parent Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and Parent-Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); completed by their parents. The psychological scores were compared between the two groups at the time of diagnosis and six-month follow-up.

Results: Eighty-five participants were enrolled, 46 in the PP group and 39 in the control group. After 6 months, 52 participants completed follow-up assessments, comprising 33 in the PP group and 19 in the control group. At time of diagnosis, no significant difference in psychological and behavioral problems assessed by CDI, SCARED and SDQ between groups However, the SDQ subgroup dimension reveals the PP group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of “risk and problem” for emotional problems compares to the control group (15% vs 0%, p 0.01) while the control group exhibits the significantly proportion of "risk" for peer problems (15% vs 0%, p 0.007). The mean score of CDI was significantly higher in the PP group compares to the control group (8.1±7.2 vs 3.7±2.3, p 0.007). There was no significant difference in psychological outcomes between the PP and control groups at the 6-month follow-up assessment.

Conclusions: Girls with precocious puberty had more “risk and problem” related to emotional problems and higher CDI score at the time of diagnosis but no significant psychological and behavioral problems compare to the control group thereafter. Therefore, behavioral and depression problems should be closely monitored in the PP girls.