Siegmann EM, et al. - Researchers determined the association of depression and anxiety with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). They found the relationship between AIT and depression and anxiety disorders. An increased chance of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety or of receiving a diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorders was noted in patients with AIT. They observed that these outcomes had important implications for patients and could lead to the choice of early treatment—and not only psychotherapeutic treatment—of the organic disorder.

Methods

• From inception through December 5, 2017, Google Scholar, the EBSCO Host databases, the Web of Knowledge, and PubMed were searched.
• After that, articles identified were reviewed as well as reference lists were searched manually.
• Case-control studies that reported the relationship between AIT and either depression or anxiety disorders or both were enlisted.
• By multiple observers following the PRISMA guidelines, data extraction was performed.
• Two univariate random-effects meta-analyses were performed.
• Using the Bonferroni-corrected meta-regression analysis, moderators were tested.
• Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2 statistic.
• Sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of the outcomes.
• Small study effects were evaluated with funnel plots and the Egger test.
• Finally, the odds ratio of patients with AIT and depression compared with a healthy control group, as well as the odds ratio of patients with AIT and anxiety disorders compared with a healthy control group.

Results

• 19 studies comprising 21 independent samples were involved, with a total of 36174 members (35168 for depression and 34094 for anxiety).
• It was noted that patients with AIT, Hashimoto thyroiditis, or subclinical or overt hypothyroidism had significantly higher scores on standardized depression instruments, with an odds ratio of 3.56 (95% CI, 2.14-5.94; I² = 92.1%).
• Patients with AIT, Hashimoto thyroiditis, or subclinical or overt hypothyroidism had an odds ratio of 2.32 (95% CI, 1.40-3.85; I² = 89.8%) for anxiety disorders.
• For studies of depression, funnel plot asymmetry was identified.
• Study quality evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case-control studies (mean [SD] score: anxiety, 5.77 [1.17]; depression, 5.65 [1.14]; of a possible maximum score of 9) and proportion of females did not modulate the meta-analytic estimate, whereas mean age did.