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Carsten Kirkegaard, MD; Nanna Nørlem, MD; Ulrik Birk Lauridsen, MD; Niels Bjørum, MD; Christian Christiansen, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1975;32(9):1115-1118.

Abstract
• Thyroid levels were estimated in 15 patients with endogenous depressions. Before electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), serum thyroxine (T_, ) and free T_, index values were elevated (P <.02). After recovery from depression, the levels were normal. Serum triiodothyronine (T₃) and free T₃ index were normal both before and after ECT. Serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels were also normal and not substantially altered by the ECT procedure. The mean maximal TSH response to protirelin (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) was diminished in the depressed patients and normal after recovery. In three patients, the increase in TSH response to protirelin after recovery did not occur and they relapsed within six months, while in seven patients with increased TSH response to protirelin after recovery only one relapse occurred. The disturbances in the free T₄ index, T₄₉ and the protirelin test may in some depressed patients resemble hyperthyroidism, but this condition can be excluded by means of serum T₃ and free T₃ index.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine (Drs Kirkegaard, Lauridsen and Christiansen) and the Department of Psychiatry (Drs Nørlem and Bjørum), Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 25, 1975.

Reprint requests to the Department of Medicine E and the Department of Psychiatry D, Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Copenhagen F, Denmark (Dr Kirkegaard).

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