Stress, Thyroid, Hormones, and Mood

Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Qualified Clinical Supervisor. She received her PhD in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida in 2002. In addition to being a practicing clinician, she has provided training to counselors, social workers, nurses and case managers internationally since 2006 through AllCEUs.com Sponsored by BetterHelp. Clinicians, sign up with BetterHelp to increase your bookings and work from the comfort of your own home. https://hasofferstracking.betterhelp.com/aff_c?offer_id=20&aff_id=2373
#hypothyroid #depressionrecovery #levothyroxine #Mentalhealthmatters

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Objectives
~ Identify the connection between thyroid hormones and mental and cognitive health
~ Explore the relationship between thyroid hormones and gonadal hormones and mental and cognitive health
~ Identify interventions to assist people with thyroid and mood disorders.

Thyroid Hormones
~ T4 is Thyroxine an excitatory hormone and the main thyroid hormone
~ T4 is converted to T3 (triiodothyronine)
~ T3 tests are useful for diagnosing HYPERthyroidism, but not as useful for detecting HYPOthyroidism
~ Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) tests detect whether the thyroid is being triggered to release T4. Normal or low TSH and low T4 indicate hypothyroidism
~ “T3 testing rarely is helpful in the hypothyroid patient, since it is the last test to become abnormal. Patients can be severely hypothyroid with a high TSH and low FT4, but have a normal T3.”

Stress and Thyroid
~ Acute stress has been shown to causes transient activation of the HPT axis, whereas prolonged stress is associated with decreased activity
~ Significantly lower TSH and T3 levels have been found in populations reporting stress-related mental health problems
~ Low-T3 syndrome is a condition characterized by a reduced peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 in the presence of normal thyroid hormone secretion. It occurs in a variety of nonthyroidal illness (NTI) including autoimmune disorders and is defined as nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS).

Thyroid Hormones and Inflammation
~ Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have been shown to be associated with oxidative stress and inflammation
~ Hypothyroidism is associated with obesity and/or chronic stress which are associated with increased estrogen and secretion of proinflammatory hormones and cytokines

Interventions
~ Proper functioning of the thyroid gland iodine, requires a number of elements, including idodine, selenium, iron, zinc, copper, and calcium
~ Recent studies revealed the emerging role of excess uptake of lipids in the development of hypothyroidism.
~ Monitoring of patients on lithium which can contribute to hypothyroid
~ Effective treatment of thyroid abnormalities may also reverse cognitive issues
~ Addressing trauma and chronic stress to reduce cortisol and help regulate the HPA-Axis

Interventions
~ Sobriety to address dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in alcohol dependence
~ Adequate, quality sleep and circadian rhythm regulation since thyroid function, is known to be influenced by the sleep/awake status and circadian rhythm
~ Sleep studies may be necessary for people with apnea

Summary
~ Thyroid hormones can be altered by physical or emotional stress
~ Thyroid hormones via the HPT axis are intertwined with the HPA-Axis –dysfunction in one produces dysfunction in the other
~ Many cognitive, affective and behavioral symptoms commonly seen in behavioral health settings may have some underpinnings in thyroid dysfunction
~ Mental health clinicians can educate patients about the far-reaching impact of thyroid hormones; help them address cognitive and emotional stress and trauma and address sleep and circadian rhythms.

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