Short children are no more likely to be maladjusted than taller kids, so parents who spend thousands of dollars a year on expensive growth hormones may be wasting their money, researchers say.

The findings contradict earlier studies suggesting shorter youngsters are more likely to be shy, anxious or depressed. About 20,000 U.S. children have taken human growth hormone. Although no statistics are available, doctors say perceived psychological reasons frequently are the only problems cited by parents requesting the treatment, which costs about $30,000 a year.

"The strongest case for treatment should . . . not be based on the assumption that if you're short, you're having problems," said study co-author David Sandberg, a professor of pediatric psychiatry at the State University of New York at Buffalo.