Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Case Control Study

Background: thyroid hormones (TH) have important and surprising actions in the adult brain. Subclinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) is defined as an elevated TSH with normal fT4 and fT3 levels. The association between mood disorders and changes in the HPT axis has been recognized.Aim of Work: is to evaluate possible correlation between subclinical hypothyroidism and the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in comparison to healthy matched controls.Patients and methods: 104 participants who were allocated equally into two groups: subclinical hypothyroidism group and control group [matched controls with normal thyroid functions], recruited during a period of one year from the period between July 2020 and July 2021, in Mansoura Outpatient endocrine clinic. Results: The majority of participants was females in both of case group (76.9%), and control group (86.5%). The mean TSH level was statistically significant higher in case group (5.52 ± 0.546 mIU/L) than in control group (2.55 ± 0.585 mIU/L), (p ˂ 0.001). The mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was statistically significant higher (7.73 ± 6.514) in case group than in control group (4.92 ± 2.936), (p= 0.006). The mean Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was statistically significant higher (5.71 ± 4.394) in case group than in control group (3.79 ± 2.452), (p= 0.007). Hypothyroidism is a statistically significant positive predictor of both Depression and Anxiety.Conclusion: Those results support the evidence of an increased prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in subclinical hypothyroidism.