title: Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the TRH-induced TSH response in psychiatric disorders.
abstract: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of TSH blunting, the TRH-induced TSH response was measured in 168 normal subjects and 176 psychiatric patients. It was blunted in some acutely depressed, alcoholic, and borderline patients, but not in schizophrenic patients. In both depression and alcoholism the fault also occurred during symptomatic recovery, though with reduced frequency. Although TSH blunting was useful in distinguishing between borderline and schizophrenic patients, its diagnostic utility in identifying or confirming an existing psychiatric disorder appears to be limited. TSH blunting is not specific for any particular psychiatric diagnosis, and its sensitivity generally is low. However, the fault has promising research utility, particularly for study of the biologic interface between depression, alcoholism and borderline personality disorder. Beyond this, further study of the possible trait nature of TSH blunting in both depression and alcoholism appears warranted.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin