Thyroid hormones abnormalities in patients with depression

Objective: To examine the relationship between serum thyroid hormones level and depression. Methods: Serum triiodothyronine (T₃), thyroxin (T₄), thyrotropin (TSH) were measured in 64 inpatients and outpatients with depression, 34 with bipolar depression (BD) and 30 with unipolar depression (UD), before and after treatment. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were used to assess the depressive symptoms before and after treatment. Results: Serum T ₃ was higher in patients group before and after treatment than in 30 normal controls. Compared with that of controls, T₄ was lower in UD patients after the treatment than before the treatment. After treatment, these parameters returned to normal range with the improvement assessed by the scores of HAMD and MADRS. Conclusion: Serum thyroid hormones are associated with the changes of symptoms in patients with depression. There may be difference in etiology between bipolar depression and unipolar depression.