Specialist for Koblenz: Examine the thyroid if you have an anxiety disorder
Important for anxiety patients from Koblenz: Thyroid can be involved in symptoms
KOBLENZ – The thyroid gland is a small organ, but its effects on health and well-being are immense: the hormones it produces influence body weight, digestion, the cardiovascular system, bone health and sexuality, among other things. Even our mental state is closely linked to thyroid hormones. Prof. Dr med. Dr h.c. Christian Wüster is a specialist in endocrinology and head of the Hormone and Metabolism Centre in Mainz, where patients from the greater Koblenz area are also treated. The thyroid disease expert repeatedly observes patients who suffer from hormone-related psychological complaints: ‘In the case of an underactive thyroid, those affected are often depressed and listless. Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, can lead to nervousness and inner restlessness.’
Anxiety disorder could be related to inflammation of the thyroid, says specialist for Koblenz
As recent research results show, even thyroid inflammation without manifest over- or under-functioning can have psychological effects. Prof. Dr. Wüster refers to a study by researchers from Ukraine on 76 anxiety patients, all of whom were undergoing psychotherapeutic treatment.
The researchers carried out an ultrasound examination and determined typical laboratory values that indicate thyroid disease. The result: autoantibodies against the thyroid gland were detected in some of the test subjects. They were therefore apparently suffering from thyroid inflammation triggered by their own immune system. ‘What is interesting about this study is that the hormone levels of the participants were largely normal or only slightly elevated,’ emphasises Prof Dr Wüster. The inflammation itself is apparently likely to trigger psychological complaints.’
Specialist for Koblenz: Also consider the thyroid gland in the case of psychological complaints
But is the anxiety disorder really causally linked to thyroiditis? ‘This is supported by the fact that the anti-inflammatory medication also improved the anxiety symptoms of the study participants,’ explains specialist Prof Dr Wüster. The researchers gave the test subjects ibuprofen and a levothyroxine preparation for 14 days. As a result, both the thyroid inflammation and the panic attacks decreased. Thyroid specialist Prof Dr Wüster concludes: ‘In anxiety patients, the hormonal system should always be examined as well. It is possible that the thyroid plays a decisive role in anxiety and panic attacks.’
