Delay in physical pubertal development during the adolescence age range, when personalities are particularly vulnerable to outside factors, can lead to significant psychological turmoil, and some patients may become suicidal. Patients should receive appropriate counselling by the treating physician, a psychiatrist, a social worker or a psychologist if depression is noted. Sometimes physical development that is induced by a three-month course of sex steroids (see above) may be adequate to support the child through this period of difficulty if temporary constitutional delay in adolescence is diagnosed.
