title: Influence of serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, age and gender on depression as measured by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.
abstract: The AIM of the present study was to explore the level of depression in the respondents using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and find a correlation with the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and the anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), the age and gender of the participants.
  
  
  
  2401 subjects aged 20-84 yrs were included, 1344 of them female aged 48.7 +/- 14.4 yrs and 1057 male, aged 46.5 +/- 14.5 yrs (p < 0.001). All participants completed the Zung SDS questionnaire and a depressive score was calculated and interpreted as follows: less than 49 points--no depression, between 50 and 59 points--mild depression, between 60 and 69 points--moderate depression and more than 69 points-- severe depression. Body height and weight were measured and serum TSH and Anti-TPO were determined.
  
  
  
  SDS was higher in the females (47.6 +/- 9.7 vs. 41.7 +/- 8.6, p < 0.001) and correlated with the subjects' age (Spearman's rho(female) = 0.447, p < 0.001, P(male) = 0.402, p < 0.001). Depression was more prevalent in the females (all p < 0.001) with hypothyroidism than in the euthyroid subjects (odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.15-2.80, p < 0.011). The odds ratio for depression was 3.47 (2.64-4.57) for the female gender and the risk of depression increased by 6% (5 - 7) with each added year of age. The anti-TPO, BMI and waist circumference did not influence the regression models.
  
  
  
  The depressive score was higher in the females and increased with age. Hypothyroidism determined a higher risk of depression in the females.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shinkov
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Anna-Maria I
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Borisova
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Russanka D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kovacheva
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Yordan D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Vlahov
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Lilia N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Dakovska
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Iliana D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Atanassova
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Varna Free University, Varna
authors.forename: Polina L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Petkova
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
authors.forename: Nina L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Aslanova
authors.affiliation: National Center of Public Health and Analysis, Ministry of Health, Sofia, Bulgaria
authors.forename: Mircho I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vukov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase