What connection is there between depression and thyroid surgery? And why does it happen in the first place? Let's get to know it in detail through this article.
Patients who undergo thyroidectomy may wonder about the state of depression that may affect them afterward. What connection is there between depression and thyroid surgery? We will talk about them in the lines that follow:
Thyroidectomy and depression
Thyroidectomy is resorted to in several cases, including: thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism, as one lobe of the thyroid gland can be removed in a procedure called partial thyroidectomy, and the entire thyroid gland can be removed under the name of total thyroidectomy. thyroid.
The connection between a thyroidectomy and depression occurs in the second scenario, where a total thyroidectomy results in a complete lack of thyroid gland secretions, necessitating lifelong thyroid hormone treatment, which in turn affects the patient's mood and makes him depressed.
Since thyroid withdrawal has a significant impact on brain functions and is the cause of the potential for the patient to experience depression, we can conclude that thyroidectomy and depression are related. The risk of depression increases shortly after thyroidectomy.
Causes of depression associated with thyroid disorders
One of the side effects of thyroid disorders is psychological symptomatology for a number of reasons, including the following:
- abnormal thyroid hormone levels, so to maintain psychological stability and get rid of depression, the thyroid hormone must be kept within the normal range.
- The feeling of fatigue and depression is one of the side effects of stimulants that are prescribed to treat acute thyroid hormone deficiency, such as beta blockers, which lower heart rate and ease anxiety in the case of hyperthyroidism.
- Patients who experience physical changes as a result of thyroid disorders, such as hair loss, weight gain, or loss, may experience depressive symptoms and a loss of confidence.
- Stress, in turn, may make thyroid disorder symptoms worse.
- Thyroid cancer , which has a major role in causing the patient to become depressed as a negative psychological reaction, especially if he thinks that it is an incurable disease that cannot be cured or that it can spread to different parts of the body, so one should only think about recovery and getting rid of the disease, especially with development. very good in medicine.
- An imbalance in hormones is brought on by forgetting to take medication or see a doctor, which worsens depression.
Treatment of depression after thyroidectomy
Once the thyroid condition is under control, the majority of post-thyroidectomy depression cases get better. Depression can be effectively treated in a number of ways, including:
- Consulting a specialist physician can make dealing with and treating thyroid disorders much simpler.
- Making connections with individuals who currently experience thyroid issues or have in the past can aid in better understanding the patient's condition.
- Antidepressants, relaxation techniques, and brief psychotherapy are just a few examples of the pharmaceutical and psychological treatments and therapies that are effective in treating the patient's depression.
- If depression is severe and acute, especially after treating and resolving the issue of thyroid disorders, a mental health professional should be consulted.