THE INCIDENCE OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA; A PRELIMINARY STUDY.

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) could be diagnosed in both sexes. Testosterone levels are normal in males and increased exposure to androgen from the prenatal period has observed in girls with CAH. It is also known that the effects of androgens on brain development may lead to differences in emotional, cognitive and language development between the two genders, given the hormonal differences between sexes. In this study, it was aimed to determine whether there was an increase in the incidence of psychopathology in girls with CAH compared to healthy controls. Material and Method: Twenty-one child and adolescents with CAH diagnosed between ages 6-17 were included in the study. The control group consisted of 21 female age-matched healthy child and adolescent. Parents of the children and adolescents included in the study were provided to fill the Turgay Disruptive Behavior Disorders Screening Parent Form according to DSM-IV (T-DSM-IV-S) and the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). The Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Interview Schedule for the School-age Children-Now and Lifelong Version Turkish Adaptation (KDSADS-TR) were conducted to the all cases who were included in the study, in order to assess psychopathology. The obtained data were evaluated by appropriate statistical methods. Results: The scores of ABC, T-DSM-IV-S impulsivity and inattention sub scores were significantly higher in the CAH group than healthy controls (p=0.043, p=0.026, p=0.037, respectively). Compared with healthy controls, it was found that there was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and depression in female patients with CAH. Conclusion: According to the results of our study, it can be stated that the incidence of psychopathology is increased in female patients with CAH. Further research with a large sample are needed in this field in order to better define these relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]