Aim of the study is to assess thyroid dysfunction in persons who present with symptoms of psychosocial mood disorder as of DSM-V, in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi and compare them with already diagnosed cases of psychiatric illness

This case control study was done at a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, during June 2021 to September 2022. Patients between 20-60 years were recruited, either from medical OPD without psychiatric illness or from psychiatric OPD with established psychiatric illness. A predesigned questionnaire was used including demographic and physical and mental symptoms. Informed consent was taken either by the patient or the attendant, accordingly. The thyroid stimulating test was assessed on all patients. Data interpretation was done on SPSS 23, with the help of frequencies, percentages, and t-test.

Result: Among 300 patients recruited in the study 67.3% were females and 32.1% were males. The mean age among psychiatric patients was 35.96+ 12.6, while in the non-psychiatric group it was 42.95+12.03. Among 150 patients with psychiatric illness, 11.3% had deranged TSH, in comparison to 18.6% in the non-psychiatric group. The mean TSH was almost the same in both groups with an insignificant p-value of 0.648.

Thyroid illness may remain undiagnosed with diverse neuropsychiatric symptoms even without physical symptoms to a psychiatrist and remain on antipsychotic medication for months to years. Early diagnosis of thyroid illness can help beforehand treatment which benefit in reducing complications and morbidity.