Utility of Thyroid Function Screening in Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate and Corticotropin Levels Are High in Young Male Patients with Conduct Disorder: Comparisons for Growth Factors, Thyroid and Gonadal Hormones

“…Increases in fT 3 levels by a third in young CD subjects is not inconsistent with a reported incidence of abnormal TSH, fT 3 or fT 4 levels in 35% of 193 adolescent psychiatric referrals [41]. The short stature and delayed maturity noted resembles very mild hypothyroidism.…”

The clinical utility and cost effectiveness of routine thyroid screening in adult psychiatric patients presenting at Stikland Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

“…Other studies have also questioned the rationale and clinical utility of routine thyroid screening of newly admitted psychiatric patients. 40,41,18 Generally, TSH testing in psychiatric patients should be guided by relevant clinical history and physical findings and these should be adequately documented in clinical case notes. We recommend that in keeping with international guidelines, "routine testing" of thyroid should be limited to those in particular high risk categories, including women >45 yrs, geriatrics, those with known history of thyroid abnormalities, and those with serious comorbid medical illnesses.…”

“…This practice of early thyroid screening is not consistent with recommendations in literature. 26,19,18 Patients hospitalised for psychiatric reasons may experience transient increases in thyroid indices secondary to the stress of hospitalisation. 28 In most cases, these spurious thyroid abnormalities may spontaneously normalise within 2 weeks.…”

“…Research has also shown that up to 50% of psychiatric patients may have spuriously abnormal thyroid test results. 16,17 Leo et al 18 suggested that in adolescents in the acute phase of mental illness, abnormal thyroid test results might be transitory and require confirmation. Therefore, routine thyroid testing among adolescent psychiatric inpatients are unwarranted except in those who display physical signs or symptoms suggestive of thyroid disease.…”

The Effectiveness of Thyroid Function Tests Screening in Psychiatric Inpatients

“…In that study, overt thyroid disease was rarely detected among depressed inpatients (30). Leo et al suggested that routine thyroid screening among adolescent psychiatric inpatients is unwarranted except in patients who display physical signs or symptoms suggestive of thyroid disease (31). However STAR-D study reported positive results of the use of thyroid augmentation.…”