The thyroid is a gland wrapped around the trachea that produces hormones. Those hormones contribute to a host of physical processes from hearbeat regulation to cognitive functoning, and more recently their effect on moods is being explored.
Often people presenting psychiatric symptoms like anxiety or depression also exhibit abnormal blood levels of thyroid hormones. More specifically, links were found between an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and anxiety, as well as between an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and depression. For example, a patient suffering with both anxiety and depression for 10 years saw her anxiety and depression simply disappear after undergoing treatment for her thyroid (with synthetic thyroid hormone replacement).
There is a caveat though and that is that it can be diffcult to diagnose abnormal blood levels of thyroid hormones when the actual levels range between the two extremes (too low and too high) as there is no consensus yet about what constitutes an abnormal level. In any event most doctors agree that a person presenting physical symptoms of an abnormal thyroid hormone (e.g.,fatigue, weight gain, inability to concentrate or palpitations, weigh loss and sweating) with psychiatric symptoms should check their thyroid.
Jazzie
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