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Thyroid function assessment before and after diagnosis of schizophrenia: A community-based study
Shirel Barnea Melamed1, Alon Farfel2, Shay Gur3
1Department of Pediatrics C, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva 4920235, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
Psychiatry Research
|September 5, 2020
Summary
Thyroid hormone disorders, specifically hypothyroidism, were more common in schizophrenia patients after starting antipsychotic treatment. This suggests medications may impact thyroid function, warranting screening in these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Thyroid hormone levels can influence mental health and brain function.
- Schizophrenia and its treatments may alter thyroid hormone levels.
- Limited data exist on thyroid hormone status throughout schizophrenia progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of thyroid hormone disorders in schizophrenia outpatients.
- To compare thyroid function before and after schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment initiation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective matched-control study design.
- Inclusion of 1252 schizophrenia patients (ICD-10) and 3756 controls.
- Data extraction from electronic medical records, matched for demographics and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels between groups.
- Similar hypothyroidism rates before schizophrenia diagnosis.
- Significantly higher hypothyroidism rates in schizophrenia patients post-diagnosis and antipsychotic initiation, even excluding lithium users.
Conclusions:
- Antipsychotic medications may increase the risk of hypothyroidism in schizophrenia patients.
- Thyroid dysfunction is more prevalent after initiating antipsychotic therapy.
- Routine thyroid disorder screening is recommended for schizophrenia patients on antipsychotic treatment.
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