Thyroid response to dexamethasone: a study on normal controls and patients with psychogenic sexual dysfunction

Pre- and postdexamethasone triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and TSH levels of thirteen patients with psychogenic sexual dysfunction and thirteen controls were studied. Patients showed lowered T4 levels in comparison with the control group whereas T3 and TSH levels did not differ significantly. Dexamethasone had a suppressive effect on TSH in patients and in controls while T3 levels were suppressed in the control group only. Patients scored significantly higher on the Hamilton Depression Scale than controls. These results compared with results obtained in patients recovered from major depression might point to endocrinological as well as clinical interrelations between psychogenic sexual dysfunction and minor depression.