Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on thyroid function in depressed patients with primary hypothyroidism or normal thyroid function.

Background: Several studies with ambiguous results have examined the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on thyroid function. This study aimed to establish the effects of fluoxetine and sertraline treatments on thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity in patients with major depression and primary hypothyroidism and in patients with major depression and normal thyroid function.

Methods: This was a prospective, controlled, intervention study involving 67 subjects: 28 patients with major depression and hypothyroidism on adequate levothyroxine therapy randomized for treatment with fluoxetine (n = 13) or sertraline (n = 15); 29 patients with major depression and normal thyroid function treated with fluoxetine (n = 15) or sertraline (n = 14) and 10 control patients with hypothyroidism on adequate levothyroxine therapy without depression.

[The relation between thyroid function and depression: a review].

Objective: The role of the thyroid gland in primary depressive disorder is unclear. Although there is evidence that patients with subtle underlying defects in thyroid function may be more prone to developing depressive disease, the specific abnormality in thyroid function associated with depressive disorders remains poorly understood. In this review, we outline the major findings concerning depression and thyroid function, with particular attention on the relationship between thyroid function and cerebral monoamines.