<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Thyroid hormones and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPA) axis are responsible for multiple metabolic processes and psychological well-being. Hypothyroidism can induce mood changes, depressive symptoms and even major depressive disorder. This review is focused on the pathophysiology and mechanisms through which the low level of thyroid hormones may affect the brain function, causing the characteristic symptoms of depression. Key pathways of hypothyroid-associated depressive states include: morphological changes in some brain areas (mainly in the hippocampus – a reduction in its volume); a significant reduction of the cerebral blood flow (incl. hippocampus), and lowered levels of neurotrophic factors (e. g. BDNF – brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which are regulated by the thyroid hormones. An adequate and timely thyroid hormone replacement and treatment with conventional antidepressants often can reverse the psychological symptoms.</p>
</abstract>

Thyroid hormones and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPA) axis are responsible for multiple metabolic processes and psychological well-being. Hypothyroidism can induce mood changes, depressive symptoms and even major depressive disorder. This review is focused on the pathophysiology and mechanisms through which the low level of thyroid hormones may affect the brain function, causing the characteristic symptoms of depression. Key pathways of hypothyroid-associated depressive states include: morphological changes in some brain areas (mainly in the hippocampus – a reduction in its volume); a significant reduction of the cerebral blood flow (incl. hippocampus), and lowered levels of neurotrophic factors (e. g. BDNF – brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which are regulated by the thyroid hormones. An adequate and timely thyroid hormone replacement and treatment with conventional antidepressants often can reverse the psychological symptoms.

Pathophysiology and Management Possibilities of Thyroid-Associated Depression

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Faculty of Medicine, Medical University – Sofia

Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine

Acta Medica Bulgarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Pathophysiology and Management Possibilities of Thyroid-Associated Depression"}

Thyroid hormones and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPA) axis are responsible for multiple metabolic processes and psychological well-being....

Pathophysiology and Management Possibilities of Thyroid-Associated Depression

Published Online: Oct 26, 2022

Page range: 68 - 72

Received: Jun 03, 2022

Accepted: Aug 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2022-0033

Keywords
hypothyroidism, depression, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), hippocampus

© 2022 S. Ivanov et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Pathophysiology and Management Possibilities of Thyroid-Associated Depression

Published Online: Oct 26, 2022

Page range: 68 - 72

Received: Jun 03, 2022

Accepted: Aug 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2022-0033

Keywordshypothyroidism, depression, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), hippocampus

© 2022 S. Ivanov et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
hypothyroidism, depression, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), hippocampus