title: Prevalence of depression in patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism by means of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); to assess which depressive symptoms are prevalent in our population, with references to the factorialization of HAM-D by Cleary and Guy (1977); to verify whether levothyroxine replacement therapy alone can induce total remission of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study enrolled 63 patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism undergoing follow-up at the endocrinology service of San Paolo Hospital in Milan. All patients underwent an evaluation by means of HAM-D and MADRS scales and serum TSH, free T4, free T3, TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We estimated a prevalence of depressive symptoms in our population of 63.5%. Concerning the qualitative assessment of psychiatric disturbances in the population we considered, our results showed that the most frequent symptoms were part of four factors, according to the Cleary and Guy factorialization of HAM-D: these factors are representative of anxiety and somatisation (factor I), cognitive impairment disturbances (factor III), psychomotor retardation (factor V) and sleep disorders (factor VI). Levothyroxine replacement therapy alone wasn't effective in inducing total remission of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests the importance of a psychiatric evaluation in patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. bennidemartini@hotmail.it
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demartini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scarone
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pontiroli
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gambini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine