Anxiety and depression among adolescents and young adults with thyroid function disorders: a cross-sectional study

Anxiety and depression are significant mental health issues affecting adolescents globally. Moreover, Thyroid disorders frequently coexist with anxiety and depression, leading to overlapping symptoms that complicate diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among adolescents and young adults with thyroid functional disorders and their associated factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of endocrinology, from (June to August) 2024. Variables included were patient demographics such as gender, age, occupation etc. For anxiety assessment: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used. For depression assessment: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used.

In patients with hyperthyroidism, severe anxiety and depression are strongly associated with common symptoms like tremors, difficulty sleeping, and frequent bowel movements (p < 0.05). In hypothyroidism, severe anxiety and depression is also prevalent, especially with symptoms like constipation, forgetfulness, and muscle weakness.

Our study concluded that the mental health of adolescents and young adults is influenced by factors such as age, education, employment status, and thyroid function disorders - hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.