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Subclinical hyperthyroidism: Physical and mental state of patients

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Summary

We investigated whether subclinical hyperthyroidism [subnormal basal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, attenuated TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation, peripheral thyroid hormones within normal range] is accompanied by physical and mental changes. Thirty-five subclinically hyperthyroid patients (27 female, 8 male) were compared with 60 overtly hyperthyroid patients (51 female, 9 male) and with 28 euthyroid control patients (18 female, 10 male) with respect to physical symptoms, affective state, short-term memory, ability to concentrate and psychomotor performance. Patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism ranged between the other two groups. The major difference between controls and subclinically hyperthyroid patients was an increase in frequency of nervous symptoms and symptoms due to an increase of metabolic rate and thermal regulation changes. The major differences between subclinically hyperthyroid and overtly hyperthyroid patients were psychomotor impairment and symptoms of increased metabolic rate. Self-ratings of affective state tended to be similar in patients with subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism. The ability to concentrate and short-term memory were not impaired in any group. Symptoms in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism probably result from central changes which lead to attenuated TSH responses to TRH, or from elevated but still normal thyroxine levels, which possibly enhance the effect of catecholamines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmittel und Gaststätten, Dynamostrasse 7-9, W-6800, Mannheim 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Barbara Schlote

  2. II Medizinische Klinik, SFB 258, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer, W-6800, Mannheim 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Birgit Nowotny, Joseph Teuber, Ralf Paschke & Irfan Vardarli

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Center of Internal Medicine, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, W-6000, Frankfurt 70, Federal Republic of Germany

    Ludwig Schaaf & Klaus Henning Usadel

  4. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Mannheim, Schloß, W-6800, Mannheim 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Dieter Kleinböhl

  5. Institut für Klinische Chemie, Klinikum Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer, W-6800, Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany

    Roland Schmidt

  6. Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, J 5, W-6800, Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany

    Siegfried Kaumeier

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  1. Barbara Schlote
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  2. Birgit Nowotny
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  3. Ludwig Schaaf
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  4. Dieter Kleinböhl
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  5. Roland Schmidt
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  6. Joseph Teuber
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  7. Ralf Paschke
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  8. Irfan Vardarli
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  9. Siegfried Kaumeier
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  10. Klaus Henning Usadel
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Schlote, B., Nowotny, B., Schaaf, L. et al. Subclinical hyperthyroidism: Physical and mental state of patients. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Nuerosci 241, 357–364 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191961

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