30.04.2007, 22:29
The onset of the disease was as follows: pronounced weakness, fatigue appeared, decreased mood, loss of interests, decreased intellectual capabilities. The skin became dry and flaky, I wanted to sleep all the time, lie down, I didn’t want active actions. In this state, I ended up in a psychiatric hospital, where diagnosed with depression and prescribed antidepressants. After 2 months. After taking antidepressants, my mood improved, I became more active, but the fatigue and drowsiness did not go away. Due to poor memory, I had to leave university. I began to gain weight for no apparent reason. A year later, symptoms appeared that psychiatrists assessed as the onset of schizophrenia - full-blown delirium, short-term loss orientation in time and space. Treatment with haloperidol was prescribed; after a course of treatment, the delirium went away, but weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, and poor performance increased. I tried to work, but I couldn’t hold a job for a long time; I was a little slow to think, had difficulty communicating with people, and was very tired. From time to time she underwent treatment in psychiatric hospital due to recurrence of crises with delirium. After more than 10 years, a persistent partial loss of working capacity occurred, they offered disability. I refused because had a job at that time and didn’t want to lose touch with society. Psychiatrists admitted that the disease’s course was not very typical; after so many years with such difficult symptoms, there was no personality defect or thinking disorder. Someone advised me to get tested for hormones thyroid gland It turned out that I have hypothyroidism and, according to the endocrinologist, it is long-term. 8 months. I take L-thyroxine, and my health has become much better, chronic fatigue has gone away, performance is better, no depression. But psychiatrists insist that I continue to take stabilizers (Depakine, Konvulekh), because it is possible that mental disorders are not due to advanced hypothyroidism , and together i.e. and hypothyroidism and schizophrenia, and not schizophrenia caused by untreated hypothyroidism. I don’t know what to do, with hormone therapy for the first time I felt really better, and all the symptoms went away, and not some, selectively, as was the case with the treatment of psychotropic drugs. Were there such cases, are psychiatrists acting rightly, or do they not want to admit that they have been wrong for so many years when differentiating the diagnosis and continue to insist on treatment. Or is it not important what caused mental disorders, it is important to treat the consequences?
01.05.2007, 00:03
Let me clarify my question: is it possible for untreated hypothyroidism to develop a mental disorder similar to schizophrenia?
01.05.2007, 10:14
Dear Polina, in patients with uncompensated hypothyroidism, depressive disorders are much more common than in people with normal function glands. Treatment of such depression primarily requires compensation for hypothyroidism. As for disorders reminiscent of schizophrenia with delusions, I can’t say for sure, I’ll try to clarify.
What is your TSH level now?
01.05.2007, 10:55
The TSH level in February was 1.7 (normal 0.4-4.0), the next check was in June, the depressive states passed, the general state of the psyche also returned to normal after taking L-thyroxine, for the first time a real effect in many years. Can I hope that delusional states are not will happen again? Psychiatrists insist on continuing therapy with stabilizers, because We are not sure that schizophrenia developed due to untreated hypothreosis. But these drugs have many side effects, is it worth taking them “just in case”, especially since before taking L-thyroxine their effect was selective, they did not relieve most symptoms. Only with hormone therapy did the symptoms begin to disappear comprehensively, both from the mental and physical side. I don’t understand why psychiatrists play it safe; it’s their fault that hypothyroidism remained untreated for so many years. Complaints such as muscle weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, weight gain They associated poor memory, lethargy, and slowness with the side effects of psychotropic drugs, and with the increase in negative symptoms that occur with schizophrenia.
I am not against psychotropic drugs if their use is justified and has an effect.
In my case, this therapy had little effect for many years.
Is hormone replacement therapy enough in the future? Or is the psyche irreversibly damaged in hypothyroidism?
01.05.2007, 11:18
Moreover, several years ago, during treatment in a psychiatric hospital for another crisis with delirium, the pressure dropped sharply, cardiac arrest and clinical death occurred, doctors carried out successful resuscitation, but the cause was never found, it was not a stroke, not a heart attack, and not anaphylactic shock. Could it be a coma associated with hypothyroidism?
The thyroid gland is one of the most important glands internal secretion. Its task is to store iodine and produce iodine-containing hormones, which are involved in energy and metabolic processes and are responsible for the normal growth of organs and tissues, bone formation, maturation nervous system and sexual development.
This means that normal mental and physical development human, since it is responsible for the normal functioning of the immune, endocrine, reproductive systems, as well as for normal carbohydrate, fat, protein and energy metabolism.
The main problems arising with the thyroid gland:
- hyperthyroidism (excessive activity of the gland with excessive production of hormones and acceleration of metabolic processes) and thyrotoxicosis as a consequence of hyperthyroidism;
— hypothyroidism (a state of hormone deficiency with energy deficiency and slowdown of metabolic processes);
- euthyroidism ( pathological changes in the form of goiter formation, nodes, hyperplasia).
The causes of thyroid diseases are:
- disturbances in the functioning of the immune and endocrine systems,
- hereditary predisposition,
- infectious and chronic diseases,
- unbalanced diet,
- constant psycho-emotional overload,
- unfavorable environment,
- taking certain medications, etc.
Symptoms common to thyroid disorders:
- increased irritability or apathy,
- unexplained weight fluctuations,
- hot flashes or cold sensations,
- digestive disorders,
- disruption of the menstrual cycle,
- increased blood cholesterol,
- heart rhythm disturbance,
- hair loss,
- trembling of limbs,
- pronounced swelling,
- deterioration in concentration, etc.
Also distinguished individual symptoms, inherent in specific disorders of the thyroid gland.
In particular, hyperthyroidism due to an excess of hormones leads to thyrotoxicosis (hormones). An indicator of this disorder is increased heart rate, increased appetite with increased bowel movements (due to accelerated metabolic processes), fast weight loss with the loss of not only fat, but also muscle mass, the appearance of abdominal pain, enlarged liver size, irritability and high anxiety, etc.
Sometimes, as a consequence of thyrotoxicosis, there may be dangerous conditions – thyroid crises . They can be recognized by sharp increase temperature, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, attacks of fear, as a result of which a person may fall into stupor.
Hypothyroidism , on the contrary, has the exact opposite symptoms: deterioration of metabolic processes, slow heartbeat, digestive disorders, lack of appetite with weight gain, deterioration appearance(conditions of the skin, nails, hair), decreased overall energy, feeling of weakness, apathy, fainting and etc.
Goiter (struma) - This is an increase in the volume of the thyroid gland.
Symptoms:
- change in appearance eyeballs(bulging),
- lacrimation,
- swelling,
- hoarseness of voice,
- the appearance of pain and cough,
- shortness of breath,
- difficulty swallowing,
- weakness,
- lack of appetite,
- weight loss, etc.
Psychosomatics of thyroid diseases
The very name of the gland in question is “ thyroid" (iron in the form of a shield) clearly indicates its main function: that which protects. What is this gland designed to protect against?
The authors of works on psychosomatics claim that this gland is called upon protect a person from auto-aggression - aggression directed at oneself. Unfortunately, this happens often: when a person does not accept himself as he is (this is often related to his body), does not love himself, and even hates himself. There are other forms of conflict with oneself: an inferiority complex, “self-eating.” All of them lead to negative conditions, such as: constant stress, nervous breakdowns, depression, hopelessness, etc.
If such conditions are prolonged, the thyroid gland begins to signal internal problems with disturbances.
But each person reacts differently to internal problems. It seems that depending on which extreme he chooses - he becomes overly active or falls into passivity - he receives one or another gland disorder.
Hyperthyroidism as an overactive thyroid gland indicates an overly active lifestyle when a person lives with the need to prove or seek attention.
As Franz Alexander notes, this violation can also be a consequence of acute emotional conflict or mental trauma.
The psychosomatics of hypothyroidism explains this disease as a consequence of passivity: a person wants to be active, but cannot, because he is constrained by fear. Insufficient activity of the thyroid gland indicates that the patient he is afraid to manage his life himself, that he lacks independence.
It has been found that for people with hypothyroidism, stress has Negative consequences(but, as it turns out, for people with hyperthyroidism, stress has a healing effect).
Metaphysical causes of thyroid problems
Louise Hay claims that the thyroid gland is the most important gland immune system person. She identifies the following main negative attitudes leading to thyroid problems: feeling attacked by life; thought: they are trying to get to me; humiliation: “I’ve never been able to do what I love. When will it be my turn?.
Liz Burbo writes that the thyroid gland is connected to the throat center, which responsible for willpower, ability to make decisions, strength of character, development of one’s individuality. Hence, the absence of these qualities leads to problems with the gland.
The psychologist also notes that the throat center is considered the gate of abundance, since when a person lives his true desires and in harmony with his Self, he does not lack anything: neither health, nor love, nor happiness, nor material things. benefits
Liz Burbo claims that this energy center associated with the center located in the genital area, so a problem in one of them leads to problems in another center.
According to this author, hyperthyroidism occurs when a person leads an overly active lifestyle, because he believes that he must arrange the lives of his loved ones and only then can he afford a quiet life. Such a person does not think about his true needs, tries to prove something, is too demanding of himself and loved ones, tries to do everything quickly.
The occurrence of hypothyroidism, according to Liz Burbo, is due to the fact that a person afraid to act, although he says he wants to be active. According to the psychologist, this indicates that he lost touch with my creativity. Such it seems to a person that he is not fast and dexterous enough to achieve success, that he does not have the right to do what he wants, that he should not make his demands.
Dr. Luule Viilma believes that fear of being crushed by life, feelings of guilt, communication problems lead to problems with the thyroid gland.
V. Sinelnikov claims that the thyroid gland symbolizes creative self-expression. Hence, problems with this gland indicate problems with creative self-expression in a person.
The psychotherapist sees psychological causes of goiter unexpressed negative thoughts and emotions, minor grievances and complaints that form a lump in the throat.
Based on practice, the doctor writes that children can also develop goiter, if parents provide strong pressure, and the child cannot openly express his emotions because of fear of them.
According to Sinelnikov, a tumor of the thyroid gland indicates that the person feels strong pressure, believes that he is constantly humiliated, feels like a victim, a failed person. Such a person feels resentment and hatred for what is imposed in life, lives with a feeling of a distorted life.
A. Astrogor believes that the reason psychosomatic diseases the thyroid gland may become manifestation of complete defenselessness in situations when others impose something on a person, “take him by the throat” and do not allow him to speak out.
Ways to heal psychosomatic diseases of the thyroid gland
Based on the considered psychological reasons, you can find ways to heal psychosomatic thyroid diseases.
What will be common to all ailments the way to restore harmony with yourself through:
- accepting yourself as you are;
— respect for your position and the ability to stand your ground;
- love and care for yourself and your body;
— finding opportunities for one’s creative realization.
And for each specific ailment there are recommendations. For example, psychologist Liz Burbo offers the following ways to neutralize mental blockage that leads to problems with the thyroid gland:
- in the case of hyperthyroidism, it is necessary to lead a more relaxed lifestyle and enjoy life;
- in the case of hypothyroidism, you should forgive people who convinced that a person is not capable of achieving success on his own;
- awareness of your true needs (and not ignoring them) will allow you to grow spiritually (since the thyroid gland is associated with human growth), live in harmony with yourself and understand your purpose.
May peace and tranquility reign in your soul!
The work of the endocrine glands has a significant impact on our condition. Without these regulators of life processes, digestion and assimilation are impossible nutrients(proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, micro- and macro-elements) and, of course, the healthy functioning of the whole organism and, in particular, the mental sphere - the emotional component.
Thyroid hormones and our condition
The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the human body, which is located in the neck under the larynx in front of the trachea. The tissue of this gland consists of thyrocytes and thyroglobulin. Thyroglobulin serves as the initial substrate for the synthesis of the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The synthesis and secretion of T3 and T4 is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), produced in the pituitary gland.
When the thyroid gland malfunctions and the production of the main hormones (triiodothyronine and thyroxine) decreases significantly, a disease called hypothyroidism occurs.
Primary hypothyroidism occurs due to pathology of the thyroid gland, when the production of thyroid hormones decreases.
Secondary hypothyroidism is caused by dysregulation of thyroid hormones by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
Hypothyroidism is relatively rare (up to 20 cases per 1000 people in women and up to 1 per 1000 in men). In this state, everyone slows down to some extent. metabolic processes due to a decrease in the amount and synthesis of triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Dangerous feature The disease is that its onset is usually blurred, and its manifestations have nonspecific symptoms. Sometimes a worsening condition can be associated with other somatic diseases or fatigue.
Manifestations of hypothyroidism
- A patient with hypothyroidism begins to gain excess weight, despite optimal mode nutrition and sufficient physical activity.
- Metabolic processes slow down, and body weight increases.
- A person suffers from constant fatigue, feels lethargic and sleepy.
- There is a significant loss of strength, loss of interest in favorite activities.
- The skin becomes dry and inelastic, hair becomes brittle, morning facial pastiness and peripheral edema.
- Libido decreases and male potency, interest in sexual life is lost.
- The pulse slows down.
- Swelling occurs, especially in the facial area.
- The patient often feels cold and cannot warm up.
Patients with hypothyroidism also experience other disorders of the nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, reproductive and other systems.
In addition, the emotional state changes significantly, mood decreases and other characteristic features depressed state, tearfulness appears. Among other things, patients complain of forgetfulness, a persistent decrease in performance not associated with excessive loads, absent-mindedness and memory impairment. With hypothyroidism, a decrease in cognitive functions, difficulty concentrating and perceiving is often encountered new information. In some cases, hypothyroidism can lead to problems with emotional disturbances—decreased mood. The above symptoms can worsen and be interpreted as a depressive episode or disorder with all its characteristic symptoms.
The severity of the above condition can significantly impair the social functioning of patients and their quality of life.
And if depressive state, diagnosed by psychiatrists, lasts a long time and cannot be treated with antidepressants; in such patients it is necessary to check thyroid hormones. In this case, not only indicators matter thyroid-stimulating hormone and T4 free hormones, but also ultrasound results so as not to miss the risk of possible neoplasia. And without treatment for hypothyroidism and prescription specific treatment, aimed at correcting thyroid hormones, depression cannot be overcome.
Treatment of hypothyroidism... and depression
Treatment of hypothyroidism is primarily based on replacement therapy with thyroid drugs or synthetic hormones, which can only be prescribed by an endocrinologist.
The patient is also prescribed iodine-containing medications and is recommended to consume more seafood and iodized salt.
If depressive symptoms do not go away while taking replacement therapy hormone therapy, and the patients’ condition does not improve, then to treat the depressive state it is necessary to take antidepressants that normalize the neurotransmitter metabolism of serotonin and/or norepinephrine after 3-4 weeks from the start of treatment. The amount of these neurotransmitters decreases in the intersynaptic space, the sensitivity of the receptors decreases, and the number of impulses passing through the neuron per unit time decreases. This leads to a reduction in depression and stabilization emotional state patients.
Only through the joint efforts of endocrinologists and psychiatrists, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient, can we expertly help cope with depression, stabilize the condition and restore the joy of life!
Hypothyroidism(myxedema) is a disease caused by insufficient supply of thyroid hormones to the organs. With hypothyroidism, practically nothing hurts, but life passes by: nothing makes you happy, the quality of life of patients with hypothyroidism leaves much to be desired. Patients with hypothyroidism often suffer from depression and often cannot understand what is happening to them.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is more common in women. Many people attribute the symptoms of hypothyroidism to fatigue, overwork, some other disease or current pregnancy, so hypothyroidism is rarely detected immediately. Only the sharp severity of symptoms and the rapid development of hypothyroidism make it possible to diagnose it on time. Subclinical hypothyroidism often remains unrecognized for a long time. A test with thyrotropin-releasing hormone will reveal hidden forms primary hypothyroidism.
How to suspect hypothyroidism
For hypothyroidism long time are worried:
- Drowsiness (patients with hypothyroidism can sleep 12 hours a day for several days in a row). Hypothyroidism causes daytime sleepiness.
- Chilliness without any colds, decreased body temperature, increased sweating.
- Decreased immunity, frequent colds, including infectious diseases(For example, ).
- General lethargy, seizures not uncommon in hypothyroidism.
- Emotional lability: irritability, tearfulness.
- Decreased memory and performance, fast fatiguability.
- Difficulty in perceiving new information.
- Decreased reaction speed, slowed reflexes.
- Swelling of the face and limbs (unlike other edema, hypothyroidism does not leave a hole when pressing on the front surface of the leg).
- Pale skin, possibly with a yellowish tint.
- Dull eyes, brittleness and .
- Tendency to hypotension (low blood pressure).
- Thickening of the tongue, teeth marks along its edges (a symptom characteristic not only of hypothyroidism, but also of diseases of the pancreas).
- Impaired gastric motility (gastrostasis). At the same time, gastric emptying slows down, belching, and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach area are disturbing.
- Feeling of a lump in the throat and discomfort in the neck (optional symptom).
- Palpitations or slow heartbeat, pain in the heart area.
- Unexplained weight gain despite no excess intake daily norm calories. Hypothyroidism causes a sharp slowdown in metabolism; losing weight with hypothyroidism becomes problematic, but this is possible if you follow the doctor’s instructions and the following .
- Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood can trigger the development of atherosclerosis.
- Sometimes patients with hypothyroidism experience arthralgia (joint pain).
The severity of hypothyroidism symptoms depends on the degree of thyroid deficiency, individual characteristics body.
In the presence of concomitant diseases The hypothyroidism clinic is supplemented by additional symptoms.
Is there a connection between hypothyroidism and breast cancer?
Hypothyroidism, like other chronic diseases, increases the risk of developing . Women over forty years old must have an annual mammogram of the mammary glands in two projections in order to catch the disease at the very beginning and begin treatment on time. After 50 years, mammography is performed once every six months, even if the woman is not worried about anything and does not suffer from hypothyroidism.
How does hypothyroidism occur during pregnancy?
Symptoms of hypothyroidism may worsen during pregnancy.
In the absence of treatment or improper treatment hypothyroidism, the development of hypothyroid (myxedematous) coma is possible. Mortality (mortality) reaches 80% in the absence of adequate treatment.
Congenital hypothyroidism is especially dangerous in children; it must be recognized and treated as early as possible, and even better, latent hypothyroidism must be identified in preparation for pregnancy and childbirth. .
Causes of hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is distinguished between primary and secondary.
- Primary hypothyroidism develops against the background of pathology of the thyroid gland itself:
- At congenital anomalies or prompt removal thyroid gland
- Inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis)
- In case of damage of an autoimmune nature or after the administration of radioactive iodine
- For nodular or endemic goiter
- Chronic infections in the body
- With a lack of iodine in the environment
- When treated with thyreostatics (Mercazolil - active substance Thiamazole).
- When eating foods and medications that inhibit the function of the thyroid gland (for example, rutabaga, cabbage, turnips, salicylates and sulfonamides, thyme herb with long-term use).
Primary autoimmune hypothyroidism can be combined with insufficiency of the adrenal glands, parathyroid and pancreas. Hypothyroidism often develops Iron-deficiency anemia. A combination of hypothyroidism, lactorrhea (as a result of hyperprolactinemia) and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) is possible.
- Secondary and tertiary (central) hypothyroidism is caused by dysfunction of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
- With tissue resistance to thyroid hormones, inactivation of T3 circulating in the blood ( triiodothyronine) and T4 ( thyroxine ) or TSH ( thyroid-stimulating hormone ) peripheral hypothyroidism occurs. Symptoms of hypothyroidism often occur when elevated level and, the latter stimulate the production of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) in the liver, and can weaken the effects of thyroid hormones.
Treatment of hypothyroidism
After an examination of the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine prescribed by the endocrinologist, according to indications Replacement therapy for hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormones is carried out. The dosage of levothyroxine or Euthyrox for the treatment of hypothyroidism is determined only by a doctor. In the absence of cardiac pathology, during pregnancy, or the patient is under 50 years of age, a full replacement dose (without a gradual increase) is prescribed to achieve a euthyroid state. In case of secondary hypothyroidism, treatment of existing adrenal insufficiency must be carried out even before the appointment of L-thyroxine in order to prevent the development of acute adrenal insufficiency.
If the recommendations for taking the drug are not followed, it is difficult to achieve full compensation. This is further aggravated by the fact that patients with hypothyroidism are often depressed, do not listen to what they are told, and skip medications. Therefore, treatment of hypothyroidism should be comprehensive, including correction psychological state patient.
For hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency, the drug Endorm (contains organic iodine) is effective. There are contraindications for the use of Endorm; consult your doctor.
The method of computer reflexology and acupuncture (a type of reflexology) performed by competent specialists help quite well with hypothyroidism. But provided that hypothyroidism is not caused by organic damage to the thyroid tissue.
What vitamins can you take extra for hypothyroidism?
Thyroid function is normalized And .
Diet for hypothyroidism
In case of hypothyroidism, it is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that inhibit thyroid function (listed above). Preparations containing soy may reduce the absorption of levothyroxine, and the treatment of hypothyroidism will not be effective.
The intake of fats during hypothyroidism should also be limited, since they are poorly absorbed by tissues and can lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
Nutrition for hypothyroidism should be balanced, rich in vitamins and microelements (especially selenium). To improve your mood, it is advisable to include in your diet foods containing .
A lack of thyroid hormones always affects the psyche and mental abilities. IN early age this leads to a lag in mental development. When thyroid deficiency occurs in an adult, it causes mental slowness, apathy and complaints of poor memory. Psychiatrists need to take these manifestations of myxedema into account in order to avoid misdiagnosis dementia or depressive disorder.
Compared to the manifestations of thyrotoxicosis, the symptoms of hypothyroidism are less specific. These include poor appetite, constipation, complaints of generalized dull and sharp pains, sometimes - pain in the heart area. Sometimes these psychopathological symptoms are the first signs of myxedema. A psychiatric examination reveals slowness of movement and speech; thinking may also be slow and confused. Because these features are nonspecific, myxedema should be differentiated from dementia based on its physical features, such as characteristic swelling subcutaneous tissue face and limbs (specificity is that when pressing with a finger in the area of the front surface of the shin, no hole remains), thinning straight hair, low hoarse voice, dry rough skin, rare pulse and delayed tendon reflexes. When determining the cause of hypothyroidism, it is important to remember that it can occur and how by-effect during treatment with lithium (see Chapter 17). Determining the level of thyrotropin helps to distinguish primary hypothyroidism (in which the level of thyrotropin is increased) from secondary hypothyroidism, caused by pathology of the pituitary gland (in which case the level of thyrotropin is decreased). Asher (1949) formulated the expression “myxedematous insanity” to refer to severe mental disorders associated with thyroid dysfunction in adults. There is none mental illness characteristic of hypothyroidism. The most common with this disease is acute or subacute organic syndrome. Some patients develop slowly progressive dementia or, less commonly, major depressive disorder or. Paranoid features are thought to be common in all of these conditions. Replacement therapy usually causes a reverse development of organic manifestations, provided that the diagnosis was made in a timely manner. In case of severe depressive disorder treatment or ECT is required. Patients with organic syndromes, according to Tonks (1964), have a better prognosis than patients with clinical picture affective or schizophrenic disorder.
