Thyroid hormones and mood disorders (anxiety, depression): literature review

Thyroid hormones and mood disorders (anxiety, depression): literature review

I.V. Tereshchenko

LLC “Professor’s Clinic”, Perm 

The relationship between thyroid hormone (TH) levels and mood disorders (anxiety, depression) is an important medical and social issue. The incidence of depression is increasing worldwide. Depression reduces quality of life, leads to disability and suicide, and is a burden on health care in many countries. The aim of this paper is to review recent data on the association between TH deficiency and mood disorders (anxiety, depression). Neurophysiological effects of TH, pathogenesis of depression in hypothyroidism and the role of cytokines, and changes in thyroid function in the setting of antipsychotic therapy for depression are discussed. New data on cerebral hypothyroidism, its causes and effect on the development of depression are an important part of this review. Modern treatment of mood disorders with TH in patients with thyroid hypofunction and euthyroidism is addressed. After analyzing published data, the author concludes that thyroid function should be assessed in every patient with mood disorders. In addition, anxiety or depression should be excluded in any patient with hypothyroidism (even subclinical).

Keywords: thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism, anxiety, depression, levothyroxine, triiodothyronine, antidepressants, quality of life, type 2 5-deiodinase, reversible triiodothyronine.

For citation: Tereshchenko I.V. Thyroid hormones and mood disorders (anxiety, depression): literature review. RMJ. 2024;2:10–14.