The British Journal of Psychiatry 145: 649-651 (1984)
© 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
TRH response pattern in adolescent schizophrenic males
L DeMilio
A marked elevation in human growth hormone (GH) following intravenous
infusion of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was seen in three of seven
adolescent male schizophrenic patients receiving neuroleptic drugs, and in
one of five controls matched for age, sex, and developmental stage,
receiving the same drugs. A positive family history for schizophrenia was
noted in all three schizophrenic 'responders' but in only one of the
remaining patients. The response patterns of thyroid stimulating hormone
(TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) following TRH infusion
were not significantly different in the two groups. No significant
correlations were found between T3, T4, TSH, or GH response patterns and
age of patient, duration of illness, medication dose or duration, weight
change, or hours of sleep preceding testing.