THYROID-FUNCTION IN ATTENTION-DEFICIT AND HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

In view of the recent conflicting findings regarding the causative rol e of thyroid abnormalities in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we performed a replication study to clarify the issue and est ablish clinical guidelines. Thyroid tests were performed in 43 ADHD ch ildren and 28 age- and gender-matched controls. Sixteen ADHD children showed total triiodothyronine (TT3) levels which were slightly above t he upper limit of normal, but no significant difference in TT3 values was noted between the ADHD and the control groups. Moreover, none of t he ADHD subjects had abnormal levels of total thyroxine, free thyroxin e, thyroid stimulating hormone or total triiodothyronine reuptake. The present study supplies additional evidence for the lack of an associa tion between thyroid function and ADHD, and counters the suggestion th at thyroid function be routinely screened for in ADHD children. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ltd.