EVALUATION OF FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF ANXIETY AND MOOD DISORDERS AMONG PATIENTS WITH GRAVES' DISEASE

Objective: Graves' disease has been associated with an increased psychiatric morbidity. It is unclarified whether this relates to Graves' disease or chronic disease per se. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of anxiety and mood disorders in patients with Graves' disease. Methodology: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted upon a total of 341 patients presenting to the medical out-patient department of Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad. Data was collected using a structured, interview based questionnaire comprising of 2 factions. One derived from the DAS-42 scale for anxiety and the standard Profile of Mood States (POMS) for mood disorders, after taking written informed consent. The data obtained was analyzed using MS. Excel 2017 and SPSS v. 21.0. Results: Significantly greater frequency of social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, total mood and anxiety disorders, as well as major depression and higher symptom scores on the POMS and DAS-42 scale, was found in the subjects. The difference in severity however, when gauged against published controls, was found nonsignificant. Conclusion: The results confirm, without any doubt, that frequency of anxiety and mood disorders among patients of Graves' disease is greater than any found in other chronic disease (as per published evidence). Keywords: Graves' disease, Social Anxiety, General Anxiety Disorder, Major Depression and Cghronic Illness