TSH RESPONSE TO TRH AND ECT

In 31 female patients diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria as suf fering from 'functional' psychosis (e.g., major depression, schizophre nia, mania) TRH tests were administered before, during and after a cou rse of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to investigate the effects of E CT on HPT (hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid) axis as well as the predict ive value of TSH response to TRH on treatment outcome. In 20 patients all three TRH tests were available; no significant changes in the mean TSH response were found over the course of ECT; however, a change tow ards blunted TSH response at the end of treatment was observed. The in itial TSH response did not predict the treatment outcome.