Concerns for mood disorders in children presenting with early menarche is not an indication for pubertal suppression
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Kübra Yüksek Acinikli
,
Ozge Besci
Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this research was to assess the psychological problems of pubertal girls who presented with early menarche. To the best of our knowledge, there is no similar prospective cross-sectional research in the medical literature.
Methods
Group I included patients under 10 years old, who presented with menarche. Peripheral causes of puberty were excluded. Group II included 9–10-year-old prepubertal healthy girls. Four mental tests were employed to both groups. Children in Group I was recalled for re-evaluation after 6 months.
Results
A total of 49 girls (Group I, n=28; Group II, n=21) were included. Median ages of the groups were similar [9.7 (0.4) years vs. 9.3 (0.6) years, p=0.06, respectively]. Median bone age and the time between first signs of puberty and menarche in girls in Group I were 11.4 (1) years and 12 (0.1) months, respectively. Height age, height, weight, and BMI SD scores were significantly higher in Group 1 (p<0.01). Mental test scores and the frequency of mood disorders were similar among the groups [Group I, n=2, 7 % vs. Group II, n=2 (9 %), p=0.76)]. Re-evaluation of 17 patients (60.7 %) in Group 1 revealed no significant differences in test scores and no new cases of psychiatric conditions.
Conclusions
There was no significant difference in psychological and behavioral problem scores between the early menarche and control groups. GnRH analogue therapy should not be based on the assumption that premature pubertal development will cause psychosocial effects and should only be considered after a thorough psychiatric evaluation.
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Research ethics: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was granted through the Ethics Committee of Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine (2022/15-03).
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Informed consent: Written informed consent was obtained for all participants before the initial assessment.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: A large language model (AI tool) was used to improve the language of the manuscript.
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Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: The data Analysis Summary that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Supplementary Material
This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2025-0153).
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