title: Decision-Making in Patients with Hyperthyroidism: A Neuropsychological Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive and behavioral impairments are common in patients with abnormal thyroid function; these impairments cause a reduction in their quality of life. The current study investigates the decision making performance in patients with hyperthyroidism to explore the possible mechanism of their cognitive and behavioral impairments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with hyperthyroidism and forty healthy control subjects were recruited to perform the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), which assessed decision making under ambiguous conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with hyperthyroidism had a higher score on the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (Z-SAS), and exhibited poorer executive function and IGT performance than did healthy control subjects. The patients preferred to choose decks with a high immediate reward, despite a higher future punishment, and were not capable of effectively using feedback information from previous choices. No clinical characteristics were associated with the total net score of the IGT in the current study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with hyperthyroidism had decision-making impairment under ambiguous conditions. The deficits may result from frontal cortex and limbic system metabolic disorders and dopamine dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Xingui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine