What mental illness can hypothyroidism cause?

Hypothyroidism can often be misdiagnosed as psychiatric illness. The hypothyroid patient may present with depression, an organic mental disorder, apathy and/or frank psychosis (usually with paranoid symptoms).


Can hypothyroidism cause mental problems?

Yes, thyroid disease can affect mood. Common thyroid disease symptoms that affect mood include anxiety or depression. In general, the more severe the thyroid disease, the more severe the mood changes.

How does hypothyroidism affect mental function?

Hypothyroidism is common in adults and is frequently associated with cognitive issues, such as increased forgetfulness, mental slowing and “brain fog”.


How does hypothyroidism affect behavior?

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, lack of concentration, difficulty sleeping, reduced motivation, mood swings, a short temper, depression and excessive stress.

Can hypothyroidism cause brain issues?

Overt hypothyroidism can affect a range of cognitive domains (6, 7, 10, 11). Studies report decrements in general intelligence, attention/concentration, memory, perceptual function, language, psychomotor function, and executive function.


Hypothyroidism And Mental Health Issues



What are severe symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid
  • tiredness.
  • being sensitive to cold.
  • weight gain.
  • constipation.
  • depression.
  • slow movements and thoughts.
  • muscle aches and weakness.
  • muscle cramps.


What are the neurological symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Both hyper- and hypothyroidism may cause psychiatric symptoms like depressive or anxiety disorder, memory deficits, executive inability and even psychosis. The severe decompensated hypothyroidism may result in myxoedema coma - a life-threatening condition with sequentially progressing encephalopathic symptoms.

Can hypothyroidism cause anger issues?

Patients suffering from hypothyroidism often report the occurrence of emotional distress (ED), typically in the form of depression, anxiety and anger (10, 11). Boswell et al. (12) showed that depression occurs in nearly 50% of cases of hypothyroidism.


Can hypothyroidism make you manic?

Although hypothyroidism is known to be associated with depression, the occurrence of manic symptoms is rarer. Few available case reports have described acute mania in hypothyroid patients,1 whereas chronic mania (defined as lasting for 2 years or more without remission)2 has not been previously reported.

Can thyroid problems cause anger issues?

Conventional medical thinking on the thyroid and emotions has always been a one-way street: If your thyroid is underactive, it will make you depressed or cause mood swings. If it's overactive, it can make you anxious, angry or manic.

Can hypothyroidism cause schizophrenia?

Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated a robust independent association between hypothyroidism and schizophrenia (OR 1.62, p ≤ 0.001). Our study confirms a higher proportion of hypothyroidism among patients with schizophrenia.


What are the long term effects of hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and heart failure. That's mainly because people with an underactive thyroid tend to develop high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the "bad" cholesterol.

Does hypothyroidism affect IQ?

In several studies, either overt hypothyroidism or low maternal free T4 (FT4) was associated with a lower child IQ (4–8), lower gray matter volume (4), a greater risk of autistic traits (8), impaired psychomotor function (10), and schizophrenia (11).

Can hypothyroidism cause overthinking?

Health Anxiety - Hypothyroid causes many changes to your body, your emotions, your physical sensations and more. This can create a type of sensitivity to the way your body feels and "overthinking" of your own health. Health anxiety is often a contributing factor to the development of panic attacks.


Can thyroid issues cause a psychotic episode?

Thyrotoxicosis can be associated with various psychiatric symptoms, such as emotional lability, anxiety, restlessness and rarely frank psychosis. Psychotic symptoms in the context of hyperthyroidism typically present as an affective psychosis.

Can hypothyroidism look like bipolar?

In conclusion, even though both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are associated with changes in mood, overt bipolar disorder is uncommon in thyroid dysfunction.

Can hypothyroidism cause extreme anxiety?

And although hypothyroidism is commonly associated with depression, it can also cause anxiety. The thyroid hormone is pivotal to the creation and regulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin. Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, anxiety, and mood.


Can hypothyroidism be misdiagnosed as bipolar?

As the thyroid tissue is destroyed, it spills excess thyroid hormone into the bloodstream. This causes symptoms that can easily be confused with the manic episode of bipolar disorder, such as hyperactivity, irritability, and an inability to sleep.

Can thyroid problems cause intrusive thoughts?

Thyroid Functions and Mental Disorders

Thyroid gland disorders are frequently associated with severe mental disturbances.

Can hypothyroidism cause crying spells?

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) you may feel stressed and overwhelmed and experience depression, tearfulness, and loss of appetite.


What is the number one symptom of hypothyroidism?

Weight Gain Is Often One of the First Signs of Hypothyroidism. Weight gain is perhaps one of the first noticeable symptoms of hypothyroidism in patients. (1) This is related to a slower than normal metabolism.

What organ system is affected by hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.

What are the two conditions associated with hypothyroidism?

The two main types of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Both conditions can be caused by other diseases that impact the way the thyroid gland works. Conditions that can cause hypothyroidism include: Thyroiditis: This condition is an inflammation (swelling) of the thyroid gland.


What is the most severe complication of hypothyroidism?

In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma. This is where the thyroid hormone levels become very low, causing symptoms such as confusion, hypothermia and drowsiness. Myxoedema coma requires emergency treatment in hospital.

What is the most severe form of hypothyroidism?

Extremely low levels of thyroid hormone can cause a life-threatening condition called myxedema. Myxedema is the most severe form of hypothyroidism. A person with myxedema can lose consciousness or go into a coma.