Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41054004›Full record

Trial reportClinical endocrinology2026

Puberty-Promoting Treatment and Psychosocial Well-Being in Boys With Constitutional Delay of Puberty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Laura Kariola, Tero Varimo, Mitja Lääperi, Hanna Huopio, Sirpa Tenhola, Raimo Voutilainen, Jorma Toppari, Silja Kosola, Päivi J Miettinen, Olli Raitakari and 3 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Clinical endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Laura KariolaHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3982-5694
Tero VarimoHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6294-4563
Mitja LääperiHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Hanna HuopioChildren and Women Joint Services, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Sirpa TenholaKymenlaakso Central Hospital, Kotka, Finland.
Raimo VoutilainenDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Jorma ToppariResearch Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Silja KosolaHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Päivi J MiettinenHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Olli RaitakariCentre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Marko ElovainioDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Taneli RaivioHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Matti HeroHelsinki University Hospital, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.

Funding

This study was supported by the Academy of Finland, the Foundation for Pediatric Research (8.9.2021), Helsinki University Hospital Research Funds (5.11.2024), Orion Research Foundation (28.10.2022), Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation (20227528), Maud Kuistila Memorial Foundation (2024-0267B), Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation (19.12.2022) and Eemil Aaltonen Foundation (30.4.2024).
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIn boys, constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) has been associated with diverse negative psychosocial effects. Albeit alleviating distress is one of the main reasons for inducing pubertal development, the impact of puberty-promoting treatment on psychosocial wellbeing is under-researched. Our objective was to investigate the impact of puberty-promoting therapies on the behavioural patterns as defined by the temperament characteristics emotionality, activity, and sociability (EAS) in boys with CDGP.

designThe study is a randomized, controlled, open-label trial. PATIENTS: Thirty boys were randomized to receive either aromatase inhibitor letrozole (2.5 mg/day) (n = 15) or intramuscular testosterone (1 mg/kg/every 4 weeks) (n = 15) for 6 months and followed up to 12 months. To compare our results with healthy peers, an age- and postal-code matched, and a national reference population were collected. MEASUREMENTS: Temperament characteristics were evaluated with a standardized and validated questionnaire at 0-, 6-, and 12-month visits.

resultsIn comparison to local peers, boys with CDGP were more withdrawn (p = 0.02) and experienced less anger (p = 0.02) and fear (p = 0.02). Compared to both local and national controls, there was a significant difference in emotionality, CDGP boys being less negatively emotional than peers (p = 0.04). Sociability was higher in the Lz-group in comparison to the T-group both after the 6-month treatment period (-0.48, 95% CI: 0.89; -0.08, p = 0.019) and at 12-month follow-up (-0.72, CI: 95%, -1.12; -0.32, p = 0.001).

conclusionOverall, boys with CDGP exhibited a generally docile temperament. The administration of puberty-promoting treatments did not result in any adverse psychosocial effects on the temperament characteristics assessed.

Indexed as

PubertyPuberty, DelayedTestosteroneAdolescentAromatase InhibitorsChildHumansLetrozoleMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesTemperamentAromatase InhibitorsLetrozoleTestosteronedelayed pubertyhormone replacement therapyletrozolemale adolescentspsychological distresstemperamenttestosterone

Identifiers

PMID41054004
PMCPMC12757888

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.