title: Well-being and depression in individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity - a general population study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), with and without raised thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and well-being or depression is still controversial, in spite of many studies on the topic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this large general population study of 8214 individuals, we aim to clarify the significance of elevated levels of anti-TPO as a marker of poor well-being and depression in euthyroid individuals and individuals with SCH.
  
  
  METHODS
  In participants from the Danish General Suburban Population Study (GESUS), serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (tT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and anti-TPO was measured. Prevalence of poor well-being and depression was measured using the WHO-5 Well-being questionnaire and WHO MDI [Major (ICD-10) Depression Inventory] questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Raw score for well-being or depression overall and stratified for sex was not more significantly different in euthyroid individuals than in individuals with SCH, with or without high anti-TPO, except that euthyroid women with elevated anti-TPO had better well-being (P = 0.03) compared with euthyroid women with anti-TPO within the reference range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated anti-TPO levels cannot be used as a general marker of poor well-being or depression in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Katrine Fjaellegaard, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Naestved University Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital , Denmark , and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Naestved University Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital , Denmark.
authors.forename: Katrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fjaellegaard
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kvetny
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Allerup
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellervik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Depression; Subclinical hypothyroidism