Psychiatric Trouble May Start in Thyroid

If you have any kind of psychiatric problem–depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, even PTSD–a number of leading-edge psychiatrists believe it is important to check your thyroid function. Why? A growing body of evidence suggests that some psychiatric problems may start with thyroid hormone malfunctioning–and that treating the thyroid problem may alleviate the psychiatric symptoms and prevent further decline. It is common for people with thyroid problems to be given a misdiagnosis of psychiatric illness. Symptoms can be vague, subtle and highly individual, experts say.

Both clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism have been linked to psychiatric problems, especially depression and cognitive decline. But I believe there is an even larger number of people who have thyroid hormone problems that aren’t picked up by standard thyroid testing such as Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, or TSH. These people may have normal TSH levels but low levels of intracellular T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. They have trouble converting T4, the inactive form secreted by the thyroid gland, to T3. Because it doesn’t show up on standard thyroid screening tests, most doctors don’t even know about it.

There is a way to find out if you have undetected low thyroid hormone function. Take your temperature. (The full protocol for how to do this accurately is on my website, under “How are Body Temperatures Measured?”)

If your body temperature turns out to be consistently low–97.8 F (36.56 C) or lower–you may have low thyroid function. This causes low metabolism, which interferes with many of the biochemical processes in the body, including the production of neurotransmitters. This condition is called Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome.

Normal metabolism and body temperatures can be achieved by taking supplemental T3, and, thyroid support herbs and adrenal support herbs can also help support normal body temperatures.

Your doctor can call us at 800.420.5801 to get more information about how to use T3 and to discuss your individual case.

REFERENCES

Montero-Pedrazuela A, Fernandez-Lamo I, Alieva M, et al. Adult-onset hypothyroidism enhances fear memory and upregulates mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors in the amygdala. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26582.

Menicucci D, Sebastiani L, Comparini A, et al. Minimal changes of thyroid axis activity influence brain functions in young females affected by subclinical hypothyroidism. Arch Ital Biol. 2013 Mar;151(1):1-10.

Demartini B, Ranieri R, Masu A, et al. Depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder in patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism: a cross-sectional study. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2014 Aug;202(8):603-7.

Thvilum M, Brandt F, Almind D, et al. Increased psychiatric morbidity before and after the diagnosis of hypothyroidism: a nationwide register study. Thyroid. 2014 May;24(5):802-8.

For Some, Psychiatric Trouble May Start in Thyroid Harriet Brown, New York Times, 11-22-11, D-5.