Abnormal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in psychiatric long-term care patients

The objective of the study was to find the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in long-term care patients referred to psychiatry. We reviewed 868 charts of long-term care residents referred for psychiatric consultation to the university-based psychiatry outreach service. Data obtained were demographics, psychiatric and thyroid diagnoses, and TSH data. Of 868 patients, 10.8% had elevated TSH, 8% in those with a prior diagnosis of hypothyroidism. TSH was low in 0.07%. Elevated TSH was associated with female gender (p < 0.001) and a trend with psychosis (p = 0.056). No association was found with depression or behavioral disturbance in this study.