TSH response to TRH and ECT

Abstract In 31 female patients diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria as suffering from ‘functional’ psychosis (e.g., major depression, schizophrenia, mania) TRH tests were administered before, during and after a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to investigate the effects of ECT on HPT (hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid) axis as well as the predictive value of TSH response to TRH on treatment outcome. In 20 patients all three TRH tests were available; no significant changes in the mean TSH response were found over the course of ECT; however, a change towards blunted TSH response at the end of treatment was observed. The initial TSH response did not predict the treatment outcome.