Thyroid Activity in Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients: Relation of Dietary Iodine to I131 Uptake

Introduction  A number of investigators have reported abnormalities in thyroid function in mental patients. Thus, Farr,¹ Walker,² and Bowman and Fry³ concluded that basal metabolic rates tended to be low in schizophrenic patients. Brody found normal levels of protein-bound iodine in 125 psychiatric patients without clinical thyroid disease. However, he felt there were small but significant differences between patients with higher and those with lower levels of tension.⁴ Bowman and his associates reported increased thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine and normal protein-bound iodine in schizophrenics.⁵ Cranswick confirmed Bowman's findings of elevated thyroid uptakes and lowered B. M. R.'s in schizophrenics and additionally noted in these patients an apparent unresponsiveness to hypophyseal thyroid-stimulating hormone.⁶ Reiss, by tracer I¹³¹ methods before and after treatment, found a significant correlation between changes in mentation and thyroid function⁷ which he felt was a reflection of more extensive