A Hormonal Component to Postnatal Depression

Disorders of the thyroid gland are associated with disorders of mood (Thomas et al, 1970; Van Uitert & Russakoff, 1979; Folks, 1984; Young, 1984; Jadresic, 1990). Both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states can be associated with depression, which is sometimes accompanied by psychotic features such as delusions and hallucinations (Wilson & Jefferson, 1986). Similarly, primary affective disorders can be accompanied by changes in thyroid function, with low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and elevated thyroxine (T 4 ) (Kirkegaard & Faber, 1980), and in major depressive illness there is often a blunted TSH response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) (Prange et al, 1972; Loosen, 1987).