Thyrotropin stimulating hormone response to thyrotropin releasing hormone in patients with panic disorder

Objective. The aim of this study is to assess thyrotropin stimulating hormone (TSH) response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in patients with panic disorder (PD). Method: The effects of TRH administration on the release of TSH were examined in 15 patients who met DSM-III-R criteria for PD and compared their test results with those of 15 normal control subjects. Blood samples were taken before TRH administration (baseline values) and at 15, 30 and 60 min. Results: Delta(max) TSH values were lower in the panic disorder patients than in the control subjects, Using the criterion of Delta(max) TSH less than or equal to 7 mlU/l, nine of the 15 panic disorder patients and four of the 15 control subjects had a blunted TSH response to TRH. Conclusions: These results confirm the findings from earlier reports that patients with PD show blunted TSH response to TRH which is similar to that seen in depressed patients. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.