The possible etiological role of psychological disturbances in Graves' disease

In the discussion of possible factors in the etiology of Graves' disease, stress has always played a major role. We investigated the possible influence of present depression (depressivity scale DS) and anxiety (State Trait Angstinventar STAI X1) on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations in 10 patients with Graves' disease. The tests were done in hyperthyroidism and after 2-4 months in stable euthyroidism. Parallel to the psychometric testing, peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were investigated. Elevated anxiety as a constant personality trait was investigated with the State Trait Angstinventar STAI X2 in 19 hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease. 5 of the 10 patients had a pathological T4:T8 ratio and very high raw values for present anxiety (mean = 53,8; STAI X1), as well as a a high percentile for depression (median 93,1; DS). The other 5 patients with a normal T4:T8 ratio had much lower values for anxiety (mean = 37,8; STAI X1) and depression (median 78,4; DS). In those patients, the T4:T8 ratio remained normal in stable euthyroidism, while the values for anxiety and depression decreased. This also happened in the patients with a formerly pathologic T4:T8 ratio. However, the pathologic T4:T8 ratio persisted in those patients. The STAI X2 percentage ranking for the 19 hyperthyroid patients was 76,5. The value for healthy people is 55,5. Therefore a significantly elevated anxiety--representing a constantly elevated internal psychological stress--seems to be present in patients with Graves' disease. Since psychological stress is known to influence the immune system, such a constant personality trait could be a predisposing factor for Graves' disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)