Relationship Between the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Thyroid Axis and Alcohol Craving in Alcohol-Dependent Patients: A Longitudinal Study

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Published Online: 25 Sep 2008

A relationship between some hypothalamic–pituitary–related hormones and craving for alcohol has been suggested, leading to hypothesize a role of some hormones in the neurobiology of alcohol dependence. Investigating this association in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients was the aim of this preliminary and exploratory study.

At baseline, a significant inverse correlation was found between TSH and PACS (r = −0.46; p = 0.022) and OCDS scores (r = −0.53; p = 0.007). A significant direct correlation was found between free T3 and OCDS score (r = 0.44; p = 0.026). In the 16 abstinent patients, craving scores were significantly decreased at 12 weeks (p < class="i">r = 0.60; p = 0.013).

A relationship between alcohol craving and free T3 and TSH was demonstrated in AD patients, suggesting the potential involvement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis in the neurobiology of alcohol craving.

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