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• Thyroid levels were estimated in 15 patients with endogenous depressions. Before electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), serum thyroxine (T, ) and free T, index values were elevated (P <.02). After recovery from depression, the levels were normal. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) and free T3 index were normal both before and after ECT. Serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels were also normal and not substantially altered by the ECT procedure. The mean maximal TSH response to protirelin (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) was diminished in the depressed patients and normal after recovery. In three patients, the increase in TSH response to protirelin after recovery did not occur and they relapsed within six months, while in seven patients with increased TSH response to protirelin after recovery only one relapse occurred. The disturbances in the free T4 index, T49 and the protirelin test may in some depressed patients resemble hyperthyroidism, but this condition can be excluded by means of serum T3 and free T3 index.

• The thyrotrophin (TSH) response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) 200 μg intravenously was studied in 19 patients with unipolar depression, 12 with bipolar depression, 14 with mania, and 5 with mixed manic-depressive illness. The TSH responses were decreased in all of these affective disorders compared to those found in 10 patients with reactive depression, 5 with reactive paranoid psychosis, 14 with neurotic depression, and 60 controls. The decrease of the TSH response in manics could not be accounted for by the effects of neuroleptic drugs. The TSH response in the groups with reactive depression, reactive paranoid psychosis, and neurotic depression, respectively, did not differ significantly from that found in controls. With the exception of a decrease in serum T level and free T index in the manics, no significant differences in serum T3 level or in free T3 and T, indexes were found between the groups. Changes found in serum T, level were due to changes in the thyroxinebinding proteins.