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From: [email protected] (Eileen Bauer)
Subject: Re: thyroidal deficiency
In article <[email protected]>,
abruno@adobe (Andrea Bruno) writes:
>
>In article <[email protected]> [email protected]
>(Eileen Bauer) writes:
>> Thyroxin controls energy production which explains sleepiness, coldness,
>> and weight gain. There is also water retention (possibly around heart),
>> changes in vision, and coarser hair and skin among other things.
>
>Is there any relation between thyroid deficiency and depression?
Perhaps the listlessness caused by thyroid deficiency could mimic
depression, or feeling unable to do anything could cause one to get
depressed, but I know of no specific effect on the brain caused by the
thyroid that would cause depression. Note that weight gain is usually
a symptom of both. Simple blood tests would indicate if a thyroid
condition is present.
I don't know if depression would cause a reduction in thyroid output,
but I would tend to doubt it. As far as I know clinical depression is
caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that chemical
imbalance has no direct effect on any other part of the body. A regular
everyday depression IMHO should not cause a chemical imbalance in the
body at all.
The pituitary bases its secretions of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
on the level of circulating Thyroxin (there are two types T3 and T4 -
one is used as a reserve and is changed into the other -active- form in
the liver). The ratio of T3 & T4 can be affected by a number of other
hormones (estrogen, for example). Naturally, changing activity of the
body's cells would cause changes in availabilty of free thyroxin, but
the liver and a healthy thyroid should be able to balance things out in
short order.
Good sources for info on the thyroid are the Merk Manual (a physician's
reference book ) although reading it is enough to get one depressed :-)
and the Encyclopedia Brittanica (should be available in your local
library).
I hope this has been of some help.
-Eileen Bauer