Hypothyroidism's Effects on Mental Health are Underestimated
Thursday January 6, 2005
According to research recently reported on in the journal Hormone and Metabolic Research, the rate of depression is much higher in people who are hypothyroid than in the general population.
The 254 patients studied were hypothyroid after radioiodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism, or after surgical removal of the gland after thyroid cancer. According to the researchers, people who had normal thyroid levels, or who were hyperthyroid did not show evidence of mental health disturbances. Hypothyroidism, however, had a significant
impact, dramatically increasing the risk for what they termed "critical mood deterioration." The researchers concluded that "hypothyroidism represents a widely underestimated functional condition that may severely affect mental health."
Read more now about Thyroid Disease and Depression
Read more now about Thyroid Disease and Depression
Source: Larisch, et. al., "Depression and anxiety in different thyroid function states." Hormone Metab Res, 2004;36(9):650-653.
Comments
Very interesting, i have split up with my girl friend who had graves disease at he age of 22. She was treated with radioiodine that made her hypothyroid. she has taken thyroxine since. Her yearly blood tests seem to be satisfactory. But she has major mood swings and i believe she has bipolar disorder/cyclothymic. She lives in total denial about the posibility that there may be something wrong. Can the person have long term problems even if blood tests show that all is ok? I would be very interested in any other info. Thanks Michael Martin uk
After loosing my throid to cancer, I have found the hpothroidism much more difficult to live with anything else. Along with depression I suffer from what I call swiss cheese brain. I don’t retain info as well and that in its self is very depressing. I just wish more people undersood.
Ohhh my God!!! I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING CRAZY!!!
Ohhh my God!!! I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING CRAZY!!!
My 16 year old daughter became hypothyroid 5 years ago. Since then, her school performance really diminshed. We had a math tutor for her this year, but I had the chance to see that despite this support, she would forget how to apply the concepts on homework or tests. After talking to her endo, he tells me her levels look fine…looking for a new endo.There has to be some way to help her out of this fog and “flat” state.
This is for Mike Martin. A “normal” range may not be considered normal anymore. A new “normal” range is now recognized by many professionals since so many people felt hypothyroid in the normal range and I can attest to this as true. I have been told that my thyroid labs were in the normal range but yet i still felt hypothyroid. I am now seeing an endocrinologist who believes in the new normal range and I feel better. Hope this helps!
My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s a year and a half ago and we only just got her levels correct. She takes both Levothyroxine and Cytomel (T3). Before being diagnosed, she was severely depressed and suicidal and went from being a consistent honor roll student to failing almost everything. If she forgets her medication, her mood is severely affected…angry/hostile/depressed. I’ve said this to doctors and psychiatrists before and they look at me like I’m an idiot. It’s nice to get a little vindication! I’m not making it up or imagining it.