[Adjunctive thyroid hormone therapy and comparison between responders and non-responders].

We review the theory and practice of adjunctive thyroid hormone therapy. Moreover, serum levels of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) were examined in 8 depressed patients who did not maximally benefit from conventional antidepressant therapy. Four of the 8 depressed patients showed significant clinical improvement after thyroid hormone was added to their ongoing antidepressant drugs. T4 and rT3 levels prior to thyroid hormone supplementation were significantly lower in responders than in nonresponders, although within normal range. Furthermore, all of the patients who had both their rT3 levels less than 200 pg/ml and T4 levels less than 7 micrograms/dl responded to thyroid hormone treatment. These data suggest that lower T4 and rT3 levels can predict the treatment response to thyroid hormone supplementation in depressed patients.