The Frequency of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with a Diagnosis of Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Objective: Thyroid dysfunctions are among the most common endocrine disorders in society. An increase or decrease in thyroid  hormone levels may present with neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms. In this study, we aimed both to determine the prevalence of  this disorder in our region by determining the frequency of thyroid dysfunction in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder in  our outpatient clinic and to raise awareness during the evaluation process of patients. 

Material and Method: Thyroid‑stimulating  hormone (TSH) levels of 1035 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder in our hospital between January 2020 and January 2022  were retrospectively scanned from the hospital information management system and those outside the reference ranges (0.38–5.33 mIU/ L) were determined. 

Results: It was observed that TSH was not within the reference ranges in approximately 7% of the patients  diagnosed with depressive disorder. 1035 patients were included in the study. When the blood results of 1035 patients included in the  study were examined retrospectively, 32 of them had TSH values below 0.38 mIU/L. TSH value was found to be above 5.33 mIU/L in 44 of  them. 

Conclusion: Obtained data have shown that thyroid dysfunctions can be encountered frequently in patients presenting with  depressive complaints. It is thought that the evaluation of patients with depressive complaints in terms of thyroid dysfunction, and the  treatment of the underlying thyroid dysfunction will contribute to the regression of psychiatric symptoms.