Aim: 

Previous studies have investigated the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and psychiatric syndromes, indicating that major depressive disorders are accompanied by an increase in serum TSH. The present study was aimed to assess correlation between depressive disorders and serum TSH in obese women recruited from Outpatient Clinics of the Neuroscience Department.

Methods: 

One hundred and fourty-five subjects, females, 60–75 years-old, were studied. Nutritional status was evaluated by anthropometric measurements: weight, height and body mass index (BMI); waist, hip and mid-upper arm circumferences, triceps skinfold. Bioimpedance analysis and a psycometric test (Geriatric Depression Scale) were performed. Laboratory tests were carried out to obtain serum TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroglobulin, TPOAb, HTGAb, TSHrAb; thyroid ecography was performed in each subject.

Results: 

According to GDS psycometric test, all subjects were divided into three groups. Group I (GI) (58 females) with BMI values of 34.1 6.0 and GDS score in the range 0–5 was classified as non affected by major depressive disorders (MDD). Group II (GII) (43 subjects) with BMI value of 34.3 5.5 and GDS score in the range 6–10 was defined slightly affected by MDD. Group III (GIII) (44 subjects) with BMI value of 35.6 4.7 and GDS score in the range 11–15 was affected by MDD. The three groups presented serum TSH values significantly different, with the highest ones in GIII (3.05 2.82 mUI/ml, p < 0.01 vs GI). Subclinical hypothyroidism (serum TSH value higher than 4 mUI/ml) was present in 13/44 (29,5%) of GIII (TSH: 6.2 3.3 mUI/ml), in 4/43 (9,3%) of GII and in 2/58 (3,4%) of GI.

Conclusions: 

The present data indicate that in our population of obese elderly peoples the increased levels of serum TSH appear to be more frequent in people affected by major depressive disorders.