Abstract

CANTURK, Gülsüm et al. Thyroid status in lithium-treated bipolar disorder patients: An one-year follow-up study. Salud Ment [online]. 2014, vol.37, n.2, pp.139-144. ISSN 0185-3325.

Objective In this follow-up study, the hormonal changes were determined in bipolar euthyroid patients who were treated with lithium for the duration of one year. Method For the study, 23 bipolar I disorder patients without any axis I co-morbidity were consecutively selected and followed up for one year. All patients were compared with 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in terms of thyroid hormone levels and thyroid volumes. The Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Data Form, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I and SCID-I/NP) were administered. Initial thyroid hormone levels and thyroid volumes were measured in the patients and controls. Patient and control groups were compared at baseline for thyroid volumes. Patients' lithium levels were measured at baseline, they were re-examined at six months for thyroid hormones, and at the first year for thyroid hormones and lithium levels. Results Thyroid hormone levels changed in no patients during the follow-up period. Thyroid hormone levels were measured within the normal range. No correlation was found between the final TSH levels and duration of illness, duration of lithium treatment, initial thyroid volumes, and the initial TSH levels. Conclusions Lithium can safely be used in bipolar patients who were already receiving this treatment before and not developed any thyroid problem for a substantial period.

Keywords : Lithium; thyroid gland; bipolar disorder.

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