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Related Experiment Videos

Thyroid disease in a psychogeriatric population

P J Henschke, R W Pain

    Age and Ageing
    |August 1, 1977
    PubMed
    Summary

    Routine thyroid screening in elderly psychiatric patients yielded few benefits. The study found thyroid abnormalities in less than 2% of patients, rarely impacting psychiatric conditions, questioning the value of universal screening.

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    Area of Science:

    • Geriatric Psychiatry
    • Endocrinology
    • Clinical Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Psychiatric disorders are common in older adults.
    • Thyroid dysfunction can present with psychiatric symptoms.
    • Routine screening for thyroid disease in this population is debated.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the utility of routine biochemical screening for thyroid disease in elderly psychiatric patients.
    • To determine the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities in this specific demographic.
    • To assess the clinical significance of detected thyroid abnormalities on psychiatric presentation.

    Main Methods:

    • A six-year prospective study involving 662 patients aged 65 years and older.
    • Patients were admitted to a psychogeriatric unit of a major psychiatric hospital.
    • Biochemical screening for thyroid disease was performed on all participants.

    Main Results:

    • Hypothyroid values were detected in 1.2% (8 patients) and hyperthyroid values in 0.76% (5 patients).
    • Thyroid abnormalities were clinically apparent in only two patients.
    • Thyroid disease was a significant factor in the psychiatric presentation of only these two patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Routine biochemical screening for thyroid disease in elderly psychogeriatric patients offers limited clinical benefit.
    • The low yield of significant findings does not justify the practice of routine screening in this population.
    • Clinical presentation should guide thyroid testing in elderly psychiatric patients rather than universal screening.

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