Comparison of hair thyroid hormones between first-episode and recurrent patients with depression in female Chinese.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare hair thyroid hormone (TH) levels among first-episode patients with major depressive disorder (F-MDD), recurrent patients with major depressive disorder (R-MDD) and healthy controls (HC).

METHODS: The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms of patients. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure the hair TH levels. We compared the differences in hair TH levels among F-MDD patients, R-MDD patients, and HC.

RESULTS: Before the disease episode, hair T3 levels differed significantly between F-MDD patients and HC. In the disease episode, hair T3 levels differed significantly between F-MDD or R-MDD patients and HC; and hair T4 levels differed significantly between R-MDD patients and HC. Hair T3 levels significantly negative correlated with HAMD scores in F-MDD patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that disease duration of recurring episodes of depression may influence hair TH levels.