The High Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction in Psychiatric Inpatients

Abstract Introduction The relation of the neuroendocrine system with the psychiatric disorders has been described by different authors throughout history. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of thyroid disfunction in psychiatric inpatients. Methods Observacional, descriptive, retrospective study of all the psychiatric inpatients in the UHP of Vigo during the year 2006, in which the presence of thyroid dysfunction is evaluated immediately when they are admitted. Results Prevalence of thyroide dysfunction is 7.5%, representing the hypothyroidism a 6.4%, and the hyperthyroidism a 1.1%. The presence of thyroid dysfunction calculated by sex was significantly superior (p = 0.010) for the feminine sex (10.1%), that masculine sex (2.3%). No specific associations were found between psychiatric diagnosis, years of evolution, toxic consume or treatment and endocrine abnormalities. Conclusions Given the high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in psychiatric inpatients obtained in our study we advised the screening of thyroid hormones to an under-population in which is feminine sex, people who present mood disorders,unipolar or bipolar disorder, especially in rapid cycling or mixed episodies; in refractay mood disease, in the psychotics patients and whom they are to treatment with psychiatric drugs, especially lithium.