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04:39
Generation of a Mouse Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis Model
Published on: March 17, 2023
Prevalence of autoimmune thyroid dysfunction in postpartum psychosis
Veerle Bergink1, Steven A Kushner, Victor Pop
1Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. V.Bergink@erasmusmc.nl
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|February 24, 2011
Summary
Women with postpartum psychosis have a higher risk of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). Early screening for thyroperoxidase antibodies is recommended to identify this potential cause of postpartum psychosis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Postpartum psychosis is a severe psychiatric emergency with unknown causes.
- Immune and endocrine system involvement is suspected but not confirmed.
- Autoimmune thyroid dysfunction is a potential etiological factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between autoimmune thyroid dysfunction and postpartum psychosis.
- To determine if autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is a risk factor for postpartum psychosis.
Main Methods:
- Studied 31 women with postpartum psychosis and 117 controls.
- Measured thyroperoxidase antibody levels for AITD.
- Assessed thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine for clinical thyroid dysfunction.
Main Results:
- 19% of postpartum psychosis patients had AITD vs. 5% in controls at 4 weeks postpartum.
- Women with postpartum psychosis and AITD had a 67% risk of clinical thyroid dysfunction.
- Control participants with AITD had a 20% risk of clinical thyroid dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Postpartum psychosis patients have increased risk of AITD and clinical thyroid failure.
- Thyroid dysfunction is a significant clinical outcome in postpartum psychosis.
- Screening for thyroperoxidase antibodies is crucial for postpartum psychosis patients.
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