IntroductionThyroid dysfunction has been linked to psychiatric disorders, particularly to affective disorders. Moreover, aging of the population receiving mental health care leads to an increased epidemiological risk of thyroid disease.ObjectivesAssess the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function, and its correlations to clinical factors, in an acute psychiatric inpatients ward dedicated to affective disorders.AimsReflect on the clinical relevance of thyroid function screening on admission in mental health care.MethodsRetrospective, descriptive study, concerning inpatient episodes from a 12 month period (January to December 2015) in a ward dedicated to affective disorders, in a tertiary psychiatric hospital.ResultsThe prevalence of thyroid dysfunction across all psychiatric diagnostic groups was 11%. Preliminary data has shown higher prevalence in non-elderly women with personality disorder as a main diagnosis (30%, P = 0.017). Only women were under thyroid replacement therapy, which was significantly more prevalent in those diagnosed with bipolar disorder.ConclusionThe relatively high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction underlines the relevance of its screening in mental health inpatients. Our results were consistent with the known epidemiology of thyroid disease. Correlations with bipolar and personality disorder were noted, which can contribute to improve the understanding of clinical-epidemiological relationships between thyroid disease and specific psychiatric disorders.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

IntroductionStudies with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in elderly focus mainly on the assessment of possible side effects on the cognitive functioning; there are few studies that evaluate the effectiveness.ObjectiveEvaluate the effectiveness of this treatment in the population over 65 years.AimsPerform a preliminary study to evaluate the response to ECT of ≥ 65 years patients with depression.MethodsWe carry out a descriptive study based on patients treated in the last 10 years in the ECT Unit of Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa.ResultsOur initial sample consisted of 457 patients. We select patients aged ≥ 65 years with depression, and with complete data, including electroconvulsive parameters, and initial and final Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) scores (n = 59). Of this, 81.36% (n = 48) had unipolar depression, and 18.64% (n = 11) had bipolar depression. In the first group, the mean variation between the initial and final scores in HRSD was 13.88 points, and 27.10% (n = 13) of the patients ended the treatment in the normal range of HRSD score. In the second group, the mean variation was 12.82, and 63.60% (n = 7) ended the treatment in the normal range of HRSD. Considering the initial and final HRSD scores, it appears that unipolar depression group presents higher values (severe depression) (P < 0.05). When we compare the mean variation between the initial and final HRSD scores, we didn’t observe a statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was a clinical improvement in both.ConclusionsThe acute treatment with ECT appears to improve depressive symptoms in bipolar and unipolar depression, when considering an elderly population.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

IntroductionLithium is among the most effective therapies for bipolar disorder. Lithium treatment may cause hypothyroidism, goiter or to a lesser extent hyperthyroidism, since it can affect several aspects of thyroid functioning. The prevalence of lithium-associated hypothyroidism varies extensively between studies, reaching up to 47%, and affecting more females than males (5:1).ObjectiveDetermine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in an acute inpatient psychiatric department dedicated to affective disorders and its association with lithium therapy.AimsTo review the relation between lithium treatment and thyroid dysfunction.MethodsObservational, descriptive and retrospective study with clinical and laboratorial data concerning all inpatient episodes of 2015 in our Psychiatric Department. A non-systematic literature search was performed in PubMed.ResultsThe present study documented a high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, particularly in women. Most cases were due to either hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism. Patients treated with lithium were more often under thyroid hormone replacement therapy (levothyroxine).ConclusionsThe evidence that lithium treatment is associated with hypothyroidism is well established and this condition is easily treatable with levothyroxine. This study highlights the importance of baseline screening of thyroid function and regular long-term monitoring in patients treated with lithium.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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