A Study to Estimate the Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction and to Assess the Correlation between Thyroid Hormone Levels and Severity of Psychopathology in Patients with Schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia is one of the most puzzling mental disorders. The etiology of this condition is not well established. It has been postulated that hormones can act as modulators of gene environment interactions in schizophrenia. Thyroid hormones may play such a role. The data on thyroid hormones in Schizophrenia is lacking. Indian studies on the prevalence of Thyroid dysfunction in Schizophrenia are also deficient. Hence it is essential to study the prevalence and pattern of thyroid dysfunction in schizophrenia. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with Schizophrenia and to assess the correlation between levels of thyroid hormones and severity of psychopathology in them. METHODOLOGY: One hundred patients diagnosed with schizophrenia as per the ICD 10 criteria were enrolled for the study after obtaining informed consent and severity of psychopathology was assessed by using The Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum levels of Free T3, Free T4 and TSH were measured and the correlation was assessed between the psychopathology scores and thyroid hormone levels. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: TSH values were abnormal in 27% of the sample and free T4 values were abnormal in 3%. 27% of the sample was found to have subclinical hypothyroidism. The PANSS total scores and positive, negative and general psychopathology scores were significantly correlated with the Free T4 levels. CONCLUSION: There is a significant prevalence of Thyroid dysfunction in schizophrenia and there exists a significant correlation between Free T4 levels and psychopathology. The exact role of thyroid hormones as a disease specific marker has to be investigated further