EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME IN PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

Numerous disorders are associated with euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS). This retrospective study examines the incidence and circumstances of E SS among 3188 psychiatric inpatients. There were 324 patients (10.2%) who met strictly defined criteria for ESS, Of these, 95 were hyperthyr oxinemic (HT), 6 were hypothyroxinemic, 179 had mildly elevated thyroi d-stimulating hormone (HTSH), and 47 had suppressed TSH. All were clas sified by DSM-III-R discharge diagnoses, encompassing five categories. chi(2) tests Of significance of the 95 HT and 179 HTSH subjects revea led the following: 1) no relationship with age or gender; 2) the frequ encies of HT and HTSH differed significantly (p < .05 and p < .01, res pectively) across the five psychiatric categories; 3) HT frequency was highest in mood disorders (HT in mood versus others p < .02); and 4) HTSH frequency was highest in substance abuse (HTSH in substance abuse versus others p < .02). In conclusion, ESS is common in psychiatric i npatients, especially HT and HTSH; pathophysiologic mechanisms may var y according to psychiatric diagnosis. (C) 1996 Society of Biological P sychiatry