Thyroid Activity in Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> A number of investigators have reported abnormalities in thyroid function in mental patients. Thus, Farr,¹Walker,²and Bowman and Fry³concluded that basal metabolic rates tended to be low in schizophrenic patients. Brody found normal levels of protein-bound iodine in 125 psychiatric patients without clinical thyroid disease. However, he felt there were small but significant differences between patients with higher and those with lower levels of tension.⁴Bowman and his associates reported increased thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine and normal protein-bound iodine in schizophrenics.⁵Cranswick confirmed Bowman's findings of elevated thyroid uptakes and lowered B. M. R.'s in schizophrenics and additionally noted in these patients an apparent unresponsiveness to hypophyseal thyroid-stimulating hormone.⁶Reiss, by tracer I¹³¹methods before and after treatment, found a significant correlation between changes in mentation and thyroid function⁷which he felt was a reflection of more extensive