THYROTROPIN AND PROLACTIN RESPONSES TO TRH IN DELUSIONAL (PSYCHOTIC) AND NONDELUSIONAL DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

The thyrotropin (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) responses to protirelin (TRH ) were studied in 62 female unipolar depressive patients, 24 delusiona l (psychotic) and 38 nondelusional (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual [DSM]-III-R criteria). The TSH response to TRH was blunted (less than or equal to 6 mu IU/mL) in ten of the 24 delusional (41.6%) and in 18 of the 38 nondelusional (47.4%) patients, the difference being not sig nificant. The TSH and PRL responses to TRH, calculated as area under t he curve, were not different between the two groups. Similar results w ere obtained when the response patterns were compared by repeated meas ure analysis of covariance.