Psychoneuroendocrinology: Brain, Behavior, and Hormonal Interactions

more intuitive study to greater empiricism. Frequently, chapters are di­ vided into discrete sections to discuss each rather distinct era of inquiry. This approach, when used, can provide a valuable historical overview of the early clinical formulations about each disease. Even though many of the earlier research philosophies and techniques may seem so simplistic as to mitigate against their inclusion, early research hypotheses were often generated from astute observation of clinical findings and relationships. In addition to shaping later empirical questions, a review of historical ante­ cedents provides a yardstick by which to measure the progress of more current studies, even though much is yet to be learned. As is true of any refinement of knowledge, the juxtaposition of the two approaches of study reveals that some of the early postulations about patient attributes and disease consequences have been confirmed, while other suppositions have been discarded. Although the generally subjective assessment methods used in the early studies may not have provided an optimal data base, it is interesting to note which clinical impressions were able to withstand greater empirical rigor and which were not. The book at its inception was intended to provide a succinct introduc­ tion to psychoneuroendocrinology research for practitioners and scientists who might be relatively unfamiliar with the area. However, it quickly became apparent that the sophistication of the information could not be readily reduced without vast oversimplification and loss of substance.

Table of Contents:
Section I: Introduction and Overview.- 1 Understanding the Role of Hormones in Brain and Behavioral Functioning.- Section II: Primary Disorders of Growth.- 2 Disorders of Growth and Short Stature: Medical Overview.- Growth Hormone Deficiency and Constitutional Delay.- 3 Intellectual and Academic Functioning in Children with Growth Delay.- 4 Psychosocial Functioning and Social Competence in Growth Hormone Deficient, Constitutionally Delayed and Familial Short-Stature Children and Adolescents.- 5 Assessing the Effects of Replacement Hormone Treatment on Psychosocial and Psychosexual Behavior in Growth Hormone Deficient Individuals.- 6 Demographic Outcome of Growth Hormone Deficient Adults.- Psychosocial Dwarfism or Reversible Hyposomatomedinism.- 7 A Theoretical Model for Classical Psychosocial Dwarfism (Psychosocially Determined Short Stature).- 8 Intelligence (IQ) Lost and Regained: The Psychoneuroendocrinology of Failure to Thrive, Catch-up Growth, the Syndrome of Abuse Dwarfism, and Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy.- Section III: Disorders of the Sex Chromosomes.- 9 Disorders of the Sex Chromosomes: Medical Overview.- 10 Cognitive Development of Children with Sex Chromosome Abnormalities.- 11 Psychosocial Functioning of Individuals with Sex Chromosome Abnormalities.- Section IV: Disoerders of the Sex Hormones.- 12 Disorders of the Sex Hormones: Medical Overview.- 13 Time of Puberty Onset and Intellectual and Neuropsychological Functioning.- 14 Associations Between Pubertal Hormones and Behavioral and Affective Expression.- 15 Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Intellectual and Psychosexual Functioning.- Section V: Disorders of the Thyroid.- 16 Disorders of the Thyroid: Medical Overview.- 17 Congenital Hypothyroidism: Intellectual and Neuropsychological Functioning.- 18Hyperthyroidism: Cognitive and Emotional Factors.- Author Index.