title: Randomised trial of thyroxine to prevent postnatal depression in thyroid-antibody-positive women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women who are positive for thyroid antibodies in early gestation are prone to post-partum depression, apparently independent of thyroid dysfunction, as measured by serum levels of free thyroxine, free triodothyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone. This finding may be due to infrequent monitoring of thyroid function, because hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and combinations of both may occur post-partum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that stabilising thyroid function post-partum by administering daily thyroxine reduces the rate of occurrence and severity of associated depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 100 microg of thyroxine or placebo was given daily to 446 thyroid-antibody-positive women (342 of whom were compliant) from 6 weeks to 6 months post-partum, assessing their psychiatric and thyroid status at 4-weekly intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no evidence that thyroxine had any effect on the occurrence of depression. The 6-month period prevalence of depression was similar to that reported previously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The excess of depression in thyroid-antibody-positive women in the post-partum period is not corrected by daily administration of thyroxine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Bronllys Hospital, Brecon, UK. brianharris@totalise.co.uk
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oretti
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.forename: Rees
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D013974:Thyroxine