Short stature: psychosocial interventions.

The use of the term 'psychosocial interventions' in the title implies that short stature (SS) carries with it a burden predisposing the person to problems of psychological adjustment. Because of the visible salience of SS and its potential to serve as a lightning rod for false causal attributions, there is a need to differentiate assumptions and stereotypes from evidence. This brief overview examines the evidence regarding stature-related experiences and the psychosocial adaptations of children and adolescents with SS. These observations are discussed in the context of common developmental experiences, such as 'teasing,' and the prevalence of behavioral or emotional disturbance in the general population. Guidance is provided for the psychosocial evaluation of children and adolescents with SS who show psychological adjustment difficulties, and recommendations for evidence-based mental health treatments tailored to the presenting problem are offered.