Clinical Studies on the Relationship Between Psychosis and the Regulation of Thyroid Gland Activity

Abstract

A 50-year-old female who developed a psychotic depression 2 months after thyroidectomy was studied. The patient had moderate hypothyroidism, and when triiodothyronine was administered, her psychosis resolved. Upon cessation of thyroid replacement therapy, there was a marked exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms concurrent with an increase in thyroid I131 uptake and an elevated blood level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The fact that these changes occurred before myxedema or signs of delirium were present suggests the possibility of a more specific influence of thyroid hormone on neural processes associated with psychosis.