Psychiatric and neuropsychological response to propranolol in Graves' disease.
We describe the endocrine, psychiatric, and neuropsychological assessments of 10 untreated, newly diagnosed Graves' disease subjects who were studied longitudinally at three stages: hyperthyroid (stage 1), after 2 weeks of propranolol treatment (stage 2), and after 6 months of antithyroid treatment (stage 3). Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypomania were diagnosed at stage 1. Elevations on psychiatric symptom rating scales and in motor activity monitoring at stage 1 were significantly decreased at stage 2 and again at stage 3. Psychiatric improvements paralleled improvements in endocrine symptoms. Neuropsychological improvements were noted on the more challenging memory and attention tasks at stage 3, whereas propranolol treatment was not associated with changes on attention tests. Results are discussed in relation to catecholamine-thyroid hormone interactions, in particular, the beta-adrenergic system.
Trzepacz
P T
PT
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
McCue
M
M
Klein
I
I
Greenhouse
J
J
Levey
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D011433:Propranolol