Quality of life, depressive symptoms and anxiety in hyperthyroid patients

Suwalska A, Łącka K, Łojko D, Rybakowski JK

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate quality of life and to assess frequency and severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms in hyperthyroid patients.
Material and methods: Forty-seven hyperthyroid patients (38 female, 9 male, mean age 51.4±13.0; 25-Graves disease, 22 – nodular goitre) and fifty-eight sex- and age-matched controls (40 female, 18 male, mean age 49.6±16.0) were studied. Quality of life was assessed by means of WHO QuoL Questionnaire. Psychometric evaluation included assessment of depressive symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety level (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory – STAI). 
Results: Patients presented significantly decreased perception of quality of life and health state, and scored worse in physical domain and global score of WHO QuoL. Nineteen patients showed depressive symptoms, remaining 28 were euthymic. Level of anxiety did not differ significantly between the patients group and controls. Free thyroxine plasma level correlated with psychological domain of QuoL. Depression severity correlated with anxiety (STAI  2). Anxiety as a state marker influenced psychological and environmental domains and global score of quality of life questionnaire. 
Conclusions: The influence of hyperthyroidism on the quality of life was observed. Depressive symptoms are frequent in hyperthyroidism, occurring in 40% hyperthyroid patients. We found also the association between the anxiety level and the quality of life.