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Clinical Summary

Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis at risk for depression and anxiety disorders

Takeaway

  • Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders than healthy adults.
  • Increased awareness among physicians is necessary to accelerate the diagnosis.

Why this matters

  • Patients often approach physicians for treatment of psychiatric symptoms, however they may be unaware of autoimmune thyroiditis.
  • This meta-analysis reviews psychiatric issues among patients with various types of hypothyroidism on a large data set.

Study design

  • This systematic review and meta-analysis included 19 case-control studies (n=36,174) that reported the association between autoimmune thyroiditis and depression/anxiety disorders.
  • 26 samples dealing with depression (n=35,168) and 16 dealing with anxiety (n=34,094) were identified.
  • Funding: None disclosed.

Key results

  • Studies included patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (11 samples), autoimmune thyroiditis (11 samples), subclinical hypothyroidism (8 samples) and overt hypothyroidism (12 samples).
  • Patients with various forms of hypothyroidism had higher chance of developing depression than healthy control participants (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.14-5.94; I2=92.1%).
  • The chance of developing anxiety disorders was also higher in patients with various forms of hypothyroidism vs healthy control participants (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.40-3.85; I2=89.8%).

Limitations

  • Effect size may be overestimated.
  • Findings may not be generalisable.

References


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