Study Reveals Connection Between Thyroid Hormones and Brain Changes in Violent Schizophrenia
China: New data reveals that schizophrenia patients exhibiting violent behavior had reduced gray matter volume in the left frontal pole and elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels compared to non-violent patients. The findings were published online in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment on November 18, 2024.
Schizophrenia (SCZ), affecting about 1% of the population, is linked to a higher prevalence of violence, with studies reporting up to 33.3% of individuals exhibiting violent behavior. Research indicates that thyroid dysfunction, which is common in SCZ due to genetic variations and antipsychotic treatments, may contribute to neuropsychiatric symptoms such as delusions and cognitive changes, increasing the risk of violence. The frontal lobe, critical for emotional regulation and cognition, often shows reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in violent SCZ patients. Thyroid hormones, essential for brain development and function, may influence these GMV alterations, suggesting a potential mechanism for violence in SCZ.
Against the above background, Tao Yu, Anhui Mental Health Center; Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University; Hefei Fourth People’s Hospital, People’s Republic of China, and colleagues aimed to assess whether thyroid hormone levels are linked to frontal lobe gray matter volume (GMV) in male schizophrenia patients with violent behavior.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted thyroid function tests, including triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and free thyroxine (fT4), on 55 male patients with schizophrenia. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) scans were performed, and the data were processed using FreeSurfer version 5.0.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.