title: Abnormal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in psychiatric long-term care patients.
abstract: The objective of the study was to find the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in long-term care patients referred to psychiatry. We reviewed 868 charts of long-term care residents referred for psychiatric consultation to the university-based psychiatry outreach service. Data obtained were demographics, psychiatric and thyroid diagnoses, and TSH data. Of 868 patients, 10.8% had elevated TSH, 8% in those with a prior diagnosis of hypothyroidism. TSH was low in 0.07%. Elevated TSH was associated with female gender (p<0.001) and a trend with psychosis (p=0.056). No association was found with depression or behavioral disturbance in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. ss7ur@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabeen
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holroyd
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin