A 2018 JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis pooled data from 19 studies with more than 36,000 participants. People with autoimmune thyroiditis were about 3.6 times more likely to have depression and about 2.3 times more likely to have anxiety disorders than healthy people.
What is important to know
The study results varied considerably, so the exact figures are not final. Still, the authors conclude that the link between autoimmune thyroiditis and depression and anxiety is confirmed. Thyroid hormones are also important for brain function, so changes in them can show up in mood.
What this means for you
- If you feel persistent fatigue, low mood or anxiety, ask your doctor to check your thyroid.
- If you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, keep an eye on your emotional wellbeing too.
- Depression and anxiety are treatable, even when they are linked to the thyroid.
Sources
- Siegmann E.-M., Müller H. H. O., Luecke C., Philipsen A., Kornhuber J., Grömer T. W. (2018). Association of depression and anxiety disorders with autoimmune thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(6), 577–584. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0190