Thyroid hormone and attention in school-age children with congenital hypothyroidism

J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1996 Jul;37(5):579-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1996.tb01444.x.

Abstract

The relationship between attention and thyroid hormone was examined using a retrospective database of 85 7-year-old children with congenital hypothyroidism who received psychological evaluations and thyroid function tests on the same day. Four unique subgroups with different levels of thyroxine and thyrotropin were compared on psychological tasks and measures of attention. Children with high levels of both hormones were found to be significantly more distractable on an index of cognitive attention but were reportedly less hyperactive. Level of thyroxine accounted for over 10% of the variance in attention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention / physiology*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / blood
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Child
  • Congenital Hypothyroidism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / blood
  • Hypothyroidism / psychology
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Reference Values
  • Thyroid Function Tests
  • Thyroid Hormones / blood*
  • Thyrotropin / blood
  • Thyroxine / blood

Substances

  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Thyrotropin
  • Thyroxine