Neuroendocrine dysfunctions, such as imbalances in thyroid function, have a direct relationship with mental health and psychiatric disorders, assesses Antonio Rahal, interventional radiologist at Albert Einstein hospital and thyroid specialist.
According to Rahal, the thyroid gland is related, among other things, to the functioning of the brain.
That’s why, changes in its functioning – commonly associated with variations weight – can also have important impacts on mental health, incurring conditions such as anxiety, irritability and other symptoms that resemble depression.
“It is our body’s balance scale, so if there is any type of decompensation, we may experience fluctuations in our behaviors”, comments Rahal.
The thyroid gland is therelocated in neck and is responsible for the production of hormones, such as T3 and T4, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, which act on our body and metabolism in all stages of life.
Its main role is to maintain the brain, heart, muscles and other organs functioning properly.
Therefore, any fluctuation in the functioning of the thyroid can cause changes in the functioning of the body as a whole.
Hypothyroidism, in which the gland produces fewer hormones than it should, causes the person to frequently feel tired and fatigued.
“How the metabolism slows down, mood can also be affected, in addition to memory and concentration, which can generate a general lack of interest in different activities, something very close to how a depressed person”, explains the doctor.
In the opposite scenario, of hyperthyroidism, the person can become extremely active, accelerated, reflecting in frames of intense anxiety, agitation, irritability and sudden mood swings.
Rahal recognizes that psycho-emotional problems can be resulting from internal conflicts as well. But what he highlights is that, sometimes, the cause can be organic and resulting from dysfunctions neuroendocrine.
According to the specialist, the relationship between thyroid disorders and psychiatric disorders exists and, therefore, it is important that the patient undergoes neuroendocrine tests before prescribing any type of medication.
“Depending on the test results, it is recommended drug treatment accompanied or not by psychotherapy, the latter for cases that effectively involve psycho-emotional problems”, he points out.
See also: Thyroid, the gland of balance
Source: CNN Brasil
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