›› 2010, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 636-.

• Monographic report (Depressive disorder) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Serum thyroid hormone levels before and after treatment in patients with treatment-resistant depression

HUANG Jia, YUAN Cheng-mei, HONG Wu, CHEN Jun, WANG Yong, LI Ze-zhi, HU Ying-yan, CAO Lan, WU Zhi-guo, ZHANG Chen, FANG Yi-ru   

  1. Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Online:2010-06-25 Published:2010-06-28
  • Supported by:

    National Key Technologies R&D Program of 10th “Five-Year Plan”, 2004BA720A21-02；Shanghai “Climbing Mountain Action Plan” Program, 064119533, 2006-2008；High-Tech R&D Program of China, “863” Program, 2006AA02Z430

PDF (PC)

1694

Abstract:

Objective To observe the changes of serum thyroid hormone levels before and after treatment in patients with treatment-resistant depression, and investigate the relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and response to treatment. Methods Forty-four patients with treatment-resistant depression were enrolled, and were assessed with Hamilton Depression (HAMD)-24 scale at the beginning of medicine treatment (before treatment) and at the end of the eighth week after treatment (after treatment). The serum thyroid hormone levels were detected by microparticle enzyme immunoassay, including triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), free T3, free T4 and sensitive thyroidstimulating hormone (s-TSH). Patients were divided into effective group and ineffective group according to the score reducing rate before and after treatment (＞50% for effective group and ≤50% for ineffective group), and serum thyroid hormone levels were compared and analysed. The related factors associated with clinical outcomes were analysed by Logistic regression analysis. Results Serum thyroid hormone levels were in the normal ranges before and after treatment in all patients. Serum T3 levels after treatment in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). Compared with that before treatment, serum s-TSH level in ineffective group exhibited a decreased tendency (P>0.05). Serum FT3 levels in effective group were significantly higher than those in ineffective group before and after treatment (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that serum FT3 level was an independent factor influencing the clinical outcomes (P<0.05). Conclusion Thyroid function of patiens with treatmentresistant depression might affect the clinical outcomes. Patients with poor prognosis have increased possibilities of thyroid dysfunction. Serum FT3 levels might be a parameter to assess the clinical outcomes of patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Key words: treatment-resistant depression, thyroid hormone, clinical outcome