Should major depression with 'high normal' thyroid-stimulating hormone be treated preferentially with tricyclics?
In a prospective and naturalistic setting, two samples representing 209 depressed inpatients were assessed for thyroid functioning at admission before antidepressant treatment, and for depression before and after 1 month of antidepressant treatment. We hypothesized that serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) elevation > or = upper 25th percentile of the normal reference range is associated with poorer response to antidepressant therapy and differences between tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and other antidepressants. Screening for mild thyroid failure defined as serum TSH concentrations > or = upper 25th percentile of the normal range may provide clues to the clinician. Such patients have a more severe form of depression and a slower or impaired response to antidepressant therapy. It is also possible that they would benefit preferentially from TCA rather than other antidepressants.
Psychiatry Department, Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, PSIGIM, Paris XI University, Kremlin Bicêtre, France. emmanuelle.corruble@bct.ap-hop-paris.fr
Emmanuelle
E
Corruble
Ivan
I
Berlin
Antoinette
A
Lemoine
Patrick
P
Hardy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine