Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-7pwfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T20:40:28.050Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The TRH-test in depression: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

F. Christiaens and
M. Maes
Get accessRights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The TRH-test in depression: a review

This paper reviews the literature on the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)-test in depressive patients. The TRH-test appears to exhibit some use as an external validating criterion for the clinical diagnosis of major depression and, in particular melancholia versus minor depression once the clinical diagnosis depression is made. However, the clinical use of this test is hampered by the low sensitivity (±50%) and by the fact that abnormal tests occur in non-depressive states such as borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. The TRH-test may be used as a predictor for a positive response to biological therapies. In addition, the test has some value for the outcome of a depressive episode. The pathophysiology underpinning an abnormal TRH-test may be determined by noradrenergic (central and peripheric) or serotonergic (central) dysfunctions, thyroid hormone and cortisol hypersecretion, phenomena that are pertinent to severe depression. Recently, it has been established that an abnormal depression-linked TRH-test reflects lower basal thyroid secreting hormone (TSH) secretion. The determination of basal TSH may, in the future, replace TRH-testing.

Keywords

TRH-testdepressionbasal TSHdepressieTRH-testbasaal thyroid secreting hormone

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , December 1992, pp. 71 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

LITERATUUR

4.Loosen, PT, Prange, AJ Jr.Serum thyrotropin response to thyrotro-pin-releasing hormone in psychiatric patients: a review. Am J Psychiat 1982; 139:405–16.Google ScholarPubMed
5.Aggernaes, K, Kirkegaard, J, Krog-Meyer, F, Kijne, B, Larsen, JK, Laursen, AL, Lykke-Olesen, L, Mikkelsen, PL, Rasmussen, S, Bjorum, N.Dexamethasone suppression test and TRH test in endogenous depression. Acta psychiat scand 1983; 67:258–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Loosen, PT, Garbutt, JC, Prange, AJ.Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the TRH-induced TSH response in psychiatric disorders. Pharmacopsychiat 1987; 20:90–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Agren, H, Wide, L.Patterns of depression reflected in pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal endocrine changes. Psychoneuroendocrinol 1982; 7:309–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Asnis, GM, Nathan, RS, Halbreich, U, Halpern, FS, Sachar, EJ.TRH-tests in depression. Lancet 1980; 11:424–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Gold, MS, Pottash, ALC, Davies, RK, Ryan, N, Sweine, DR, Martin, DM.Distinguishing unipolar and bipolar depression by thyrotropin release test. Lancet 1979; 11:411–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Gold, MS, Pottash, ALC, Ryan, N, Sweeney, DR, Davies, RK, Martin, DM.TRH-induced TSH-response in unipolar, bipolar and secondary depressions: possible utility in clinical assessment and differential diagnosis. Psychoneuroendocrinol 1980; 5:147–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Maes, M, De Ruyter, M, Hobin, P, Suy, E.The thyrotropin-releasing hormone test in depressed and non-depressed psychiatric patients. Psychiat Psychobiol 1988; 3:373–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Maes, M, Schotte, C, Vandewoude, M, Martin, M, Blockx, P.TSH responses to TRH as a function of basal serum TSH: relevance for unipolar depression in females. Pharmacopsychiat 1991; in press.Google Scholar
19.Calloway, SP, Dolan, RJ, Fonagy, P, De Souza, VFA, Wakeling, A.Endocrine changes and clinical profiles in depression: II. The thyrotropin-releasing hormonetest. Psychol Med 1984; 14:759–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Linkowski, P, Van Wettere, JP, Kerkhofs, M, Brauman, H, Mendlewicz, J.Thyrotropin response to thyreostimulin in affectively ill women; relationship to suicidal behaviour. Br J Psychiat 1983; 143:401–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Amsterdam, J, Winokur, A, Caroff, S, Mendels, J.Thyrotropin-releasing hormone's mood-elevating effects in depressed patients, anorectic patients, and normal volunteers. Am J Psychiat 1981; 138:115–6.Google ScholarPubMed
25.Extein, J, Pottash, ALC, Gold, S.Relationship of thyrotropin-releasing hormone test and dexamethasone suppression test abnormalities in unipolar depression. Psychiat Res 1981; 4:49–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27.Goodwin, GM, Fairburn, CG, Keenan, JC, Caven, PJ.The effects of dieting and weight loss upon the stimulation of thyrotropin (TSH) by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and suppression of Cortisol secretion by dexamethasone in men and women. J aff Dis 1988; 14:137–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Maes, M, Vandewoude, M, Maes, L, Schotte, C, Cosyns, P.A revised interpretation of the TRH test results in female depressed patients. Part 1: TSH responses. Effects of severity of illness, thyroid hormones, monoamines, age, sex hormonal, corticosteroid and nutritional state. J aff Dis 1989; 16:203–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29.Baumgartner, A.Central thyroid stimulation in severely ill depressed, manic and schizofrenic patients. Biol Psychiat 1980; 21:417–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30.Loosen, PT, Prange, AJ.Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH): a useful tool for psychoneuroendocrine investigation. Psychoneuroendocrinol 1980; 5:63–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38.Coppen, A, Montgomery, S, Peet, BM, Bailey, J.Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the treatment of depression. Lancet 1974; 11:433–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43.Joffe, RT, Roy-Byrne, PT, Uhde, TW, Post, RM.Thyroid function and affective illnesses: a reappraisal. Biol Psychiat 1984; 29:1685–91.Google Scholar
49.Amsterdam, JD, Winokur, A, Mendels, J, Snyder, P.Distinguishing depression subtypes by thyrotropin response to TRH testing. Lancet 1979; 11:904–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
52.Rubin, RT, Poland, RE, Blodgett, ALN, Winston, RA, Forster, B, Hart, PJ.Endocrine responses to perturbation tests in primary endogenous depression : preliminary findings. Proceedings of the third World Congress of Biological Psychiat 1981; 10–21.Google Scholar
57.Rush, AJ, Schlesser, MA, Roffwarg, HP.Relationships among the TRH, REM latency, and dexamethasone suppression tests: preliminary findings. J clin Psychiat 1983; 44:23–9.Google ScholarPubMed
58.Banki, CM, Arato, M, Papp, Z.Thyroid stimulation test in healthy subjects and psychiatric patients. Acta psychiat scand 1984; 70:295–303.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
64.Suy, E, Maes, M.De diagnostische performantie van de dexamethasone suppressie test en van de thyreotropine releasing hormone test. Tijdschr Psychiat 1987; 29:585–93.Google Scholar