Hypothyroidismis a common thyroid condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.
This can impact mental well-being.
Psychiatric symptoms like low mood, memory problems, and extreme fatigue are common among people with hypothyroidism.
FG Trade / Getty Images
FG Trade / Getty Images
What Causes Psychiatric Symptoms?
Psychiatric symptoms include a variety of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that are tied to mental health challenges.
What Does “Psychiatric” Mean?
Hypothyroidism is one of these conditions.
Thyroid hormones affect many areas and functions of the body, including the brain.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that 5% of Americans have hypothyroidism.
While depression as a mental illness affects mood and cognition, so can low thyroid hormone levels.
Testing for thyroid hormone levels is a way to differentiate depression from other health conditions.
Some estimates show as many as 60% of people with hypothyroidism also experience depression.
Anxiety and Hypothyroidism
There is less consensus on the strength of the association betweenanxietyand hypothyroidism.
Nonetheless, several studies do point to a connection between hypothyroidism and anxiety.
Variations
Research suggests that psychiatric symptoms may differ by the level of hypothyroidism.
Age may affect the presence of psychiatric symptoms.
The cause-and-effect relationship can be complicated.
Treating Psychiatric Symptoms
Treatment for psychiatric symptoms of hypothyroidism focuses on treating the underlying thyroid issues.
These medications help stimulate the underactive thyroid so that it produces normal thyroid hormones.
If standard thyroid treatments do not help with psychiatric symptoms, there may be an underlying mental health condition.
If thats the case, treatment will focus on improving mental well-being.
Mental health challenges are treatable.
They include medication, therapy, or a combination of both.
Summary
Psychiatric symptoms, including depression and memory problems, are common among people with hypothyroidism.
There are so many reasons why these feelings surface.
However, hypothyroidism is common and so are psychiatric symptoms among people with hypothyroidism.
Testing for hypothyroidism is straightforward and often starts with a simple blood draw at your healthcare providers office.
If you learn you have hypothyroidism, do not fear.
It depends on how you define crazy.
Hypothyroidism is associated with psychiatric symptoms like depression, anxiety, and cognitive issues.
Therefore, hypothyroidism is often mistaken for depression.
A healthcare provider can distinguish between the two conditions by testing for thyroid hormone levels.
If they come back abnormal, then thyroid issues are likely the underlying cause of depressive symptoms.
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British Thyroid Foundation.Psychological symptoms and thyroid disorders.
