The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a comparative study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the current prevalence of major depression and anxiety disorders in patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and euthyroid goiter.

Method: The study sample was formed by consecutive 51 and 45 patients who were admitted to the endocrinology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with euthyroid HT and endemic/nonendemic goiter, respectively, and 68 healthy controls. Current diagnoses of psychiatric disorders were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied to the participants.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference among the three groups in terms of major depression (P=.001), any mood or anxiety disorder (P=.000), any depressive disorder (P=.020), any anxiety disorder (P=.016) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (P=.013). In the HT group, the prevalence of depression (P=.000), OCD (P=.005) and panic disorder (P=.041) was significantly higher than that in the control group. In the goiter group, depression (P=.006), any depressive disorder (P=.03), and any mood or anxiety disorder (P=.000) were significantly common in comparison to the control group. No significant difference was found between the HT and goiter groups.

Conclusions: Euthyroid HT and euthyroid goiter increase predisposition to major depression and anxiety disorders, and thyroid autoimmunity and other thyroid pathologies should be investigated in euthyroid patients with chronic and treatment-resistant complaints.