TRH Test in Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

To the Editor: In the April 17 issue of the Journal Extein and his colleagues report their findings on the response of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Their study population consisted of 53 patients with major affective disorders (41 with unipolar and 12 with bipolar disorders) and 22 patients with minor depressive or schizoaffective disorders. A blunted TSH response, defined as ΔTSH ≤7 μU per milliliter, was found in 31 patients with a unipolar disorder and one with a bipolar disorder. None of the 22 other patients had this response. The authors concluded that the TRH test may . . .