The clinical significance of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone test in alcoholic men.
Sixty-six alcoholic men who had been abstinent from alcohol for at least four weeks were assessed clinically and then investigated in terms of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and prolactin responses to a Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) challenge. Consistent with other studies, a third of the subjects had a blunted TSH response to TRH. This blunted response was not associated with a family history of alcoholism, or current depressive symptoms, past history of depression or family history of depression. However, subjects with a blunted TSH response were more likely to have had an earlier onset of alcoholism and to have had shorter alcoholic remissions in the past.
Sellman
J D
JD
Department of Psychological Medicine, Sunnyside Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Joyce
P R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin