Thyroid diseases and Psychology problem

Introduction

Thyroid problems are mainly of two types. Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than that is necessary for human body. In hypothyroidism hormone is produced in less quantity than necessary.

Symptoms

Weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, depression, irritability, sweating, hyperactivity etc. Palpitation, softness of breath, vomiting, nausea etc are also found in some patients.

Causes

Hypothyroidism may be due to loss of thyroid tissue due to some radioactive destruction, presence of antithyroid antibodies, congenital problems, defective production of thyroid hormone by gland, due to medications including lithium etc.

Hyperthyroidism occurs due to some diseases causing stimulation of thyroid gland, toxic multinodular goiter, thyroiditis, pituitary adenoma, or due to some drugs used by patient. Usually amiodarone given for cardiac problems causes hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid disorders and psychology

Patients are also found to have developed anxiety along with depression in cases of thyroid diseases. In the studies conducted it was found that patients with biochemical hypothyroidism these symptoms are low. Most of them has mood disorders as well. Thyroid disorders are also likely to cause mental and neurological dysfunction. Anxiety due to this disease is also likely to affect the quality of life of patient. In patients with antiimmune thyroid disease psychoses are likely to develop. This is because of the neurobiologic disorganization caused by this disease. Cognitive dysfunction and other psychiatric illnesses are also likely to occur. Several problems like dysphoria, emotional lability, insomnia etc are also likely to occur due to thyroid problem. At times this may lead to delusional thoughts at times of paranoid nature.

In men this disease is associated with several sexual symptoms. Thyroid diseases leads to below normal sexual desire, delayed or premature ejaculation and erectile disfunction. These are all considered to be psychological problems related to thyroid disease.

Even mild problem with thyroid is likely to cause mood problems. This may lead to bipolar or unipolar disorder. If thyroid diseases are developed in childhood they are likely to affect behavior and Intellectual development of child. Neuropsychiatric problems are common in children with thyroid problems and in those with hyperthyroidism and leads to bipolar disorder, depression, sleep disorders and cognitive changes.

Those with thyroid problems have symptoms of mental and physical complaints like loss of energy and is difficult to understand psychiatric problems. Some of them have depression, about 62 percent patients have anxiety disorders. Panic disorders are not popular. Due to decresed attentiveness, slowing of thought and speech and poor concentration they are likely to develop depression. Patients suffer problems like fear, suspicion, delusion, anger etc. They experience auditory and visual problems, sleep disturbances as well. More symptoms are seen in those with euthyroid goiter.

Treatment

Those with depression, anxiety, should undergo medical lab test for blood count, thyroid functions, electrolysis, liver function test etc. men if having thyroid problem must consider their sexual function. At times medicines given to patients with mental illness is also likely to cause thyroid problems. This should be taken care of.


Links

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:174868

http://thyroid-disorders.suite101.com/article.cfm/thyroid_disease