R Joffe1, Z Segal, W Singer. 1. Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Various somatic antidepressant treatments of depression are associated with substantial but limited decreases in T4 levels. This study examined changes in patients' thyroid hormone levels during a period of cognitive behavior therapy. METHOD: Thyroid hormone levels of 30 patients with major depressive disorder were measured before and after they received 20 weekly sessions of cognitive behavior therapy. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in measures of T4 in the 17 responders to cognitive behavior therapy and increases in the 13 nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive behavior therapy has an effect on the thyroid axis similar to that of somatic antidepressant treatments.
OBJECTIVE: Various somatic antidepressant treatments of depression are associated with substantial but limited decreases in T4 levels. This study examined changes in patients' thyroid hormone levels during a period of cognitive behavior therapy. METHOD: Thyroid hormone levels of 30 patients with major depressive disorder were measured before and after they received 20 weekly sessions of cognitive behavior therapy. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in measures of T4 in the 17 responders to cognitive behavior therapy and increases in the 13 nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive behavior therapy has an effect on the thyroid axis similar to that of somatic antidepressant treatments.