Prevalence of Depression in Hypothyroidism: A Hospital based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Hypothyroidism is the most prevalent endocrine disorder worldwide. Psychiatric comorbidities are common in thyroid disorder patients and complicate patients' life quality as well as disease management. Thyroid hormone has a role in neurological development, and hormone deficiency can be manifested by many neurological signs and symptoms such as behavioral disturbances, anxiety and depressive symptoms. The study aimed to explore prevalence of depression and identify associated characteristics among patients with thyroid function disorder. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 thyroid disorder patients. A semi-structured questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory Scale were used to collect information regarding sociodemographic characteristics and prevalence of depression respectively. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 16. Continuous data were displayed using mean and standard deviation; categorical data were displayed in numbers and percentage. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between the variables. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Patients' mean age was 38.60 (SD & plusmn;10.50) years. Majority 79.5 % were females. Most of the patients 94.8% attending OPD were married. 86.7% were Hindus. 48.6% had clinical hypothyroidism and 51.4% had subclinical hypothyroidism. 57.1% were under medication. Associations with age, marital status, type of hypothyroidism and duration of illness were significant. 31% of the patients attending the GPOPD and MOPD had depression. Depression was highly prevalent among hypothyroid patients and screening for depression among hypothyroid patients is recommended. Management of thyroid disorders should incorporate treatment of anxiety and depression; routine psychiatric screening of the groups with higher prevalence is advisable.