1. Misdiagnosis: Thyroid Dysfunction & Mood Disorder Correlation
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Emma Bocchino, MSW Canidate
GRC MSW Program
Abstract
The research proposed in this thesis examines the role that our medical, physically tested thyroid levels can affect and impact the presentation, existence and severity of mood disorders with a particular focus on Depression, Anxiety and Bipolar Disorders through research and proposed medical studies. The connection to our development and the benefits that the medical and clinical field play in understanding the impact that the Thyroid and mood disorders have on clients emphasizes the need for a biopsychosocial model to be the collaboration between both fields in order to enhance continued research and progress
Biomedical over Biopsychosocial Approach
Hyper vs. Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism controls an individual’s metabolic processing, which means that it controls the speed of how our body processes internal and external stimuli.
Hyperthyroidism can manifest in the body in a physical manner with increased perspiration, hand tremors, thinning of the skin, drastic weight lose and increased heart rate (American Thyroid Association, 2018).
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism occurs when the Thyroid is unable to produce enough Thyroid hormone to meet the body’s increased need for production meaning that is slows down areas such a metabolism, heart beat and energy in general (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 2018).
Reports show that women are more likely than men to develop Hypothyroidism (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 2018).
Biomedical Approach
Focused entirely on the idea of pharmacological treatment for mental and physical alignments. This approach viewed mental disorders, such as mood and personality disorders, as brain diseases and emphasized pharmacological treatment to target presumed biological abnormalities” (Deacon, 2012).
Saw mental illness as a disease that could be eradicated by purely medication to adjust the imbalances of chemicals found in the brain without further examination or discussion of the impact of a person’s environment, genetic predisposition, social constructs and factors on the presentation and continuation of their mental illness.
Medical doctors did not consult nor seek clinical Social Worker’s perspective as they viewed the problem simply as a medically controlled issue
Biopsychosocial Approach
Came about after patient’s were seen for physical symptoms, mental illness was not accounted or screened for a “vast majority of patients both in emergency situations or general medical follow-ups” and they would be simply tested and treated for medical concerns or simply for something that may present as a mental illness but truly be a physical alignment.
Examining a patient’s physical and mental concerns from a medical and clinical perspective that account for social, psychological, behavioral or clinical perspectives to play a role in determining an individual’s diagnosis (Weil, 2015).
Mood Disorders Impacted by Thyroid Dysfunction
Bipolar
The mania associated with bipolar could be effected or even mimic those with Hyperthyroidism in clients causing to a misdiagnosis in terms of the medical side.
Depression
The Harvard Medical School, Thyroid Clinic noted that depressive symptoms (i.e. fatigue, weight gain, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, restlessness, insomnia, etc) can be mimicked with people who have under production of the Thyroid or Hypothyroidism (Harvard Medical School: Thyroid Clinic, 2011).
Anxiety
Hyperthyroidism if left untreated as the cause for the anxiety, the T3 and T4 levels could lead to a higher risk of what is nicknamed in a the medical community a “thyroid surge/storm” and would affect the hearts ability to function due to increased physical strain meaning higher risk of “congenital heart failure, atrial fibrillation, dangerous arrhythmia and even stroke” (Holtorf Medical Group, 2018).
Implications to Mental Illness
Collaborative method between medical professionals and clinicians
Increased need for research in regards to the the impact of a person’s environment, genetic predisposition, social constructs and factors on the presentation and continuation of their mental illness
Examines and dissects a client’s symptoms from various professional scopes to better assess, treat and manage mental and physical illness
References
American Thyroid Association. (2018). General Information. Retrieved January 28, 2018, from American Thyroid Association:
Bipolar lives (2015), Common Thryoid Dysfunction Symptoms. Picture retrieved March 31, 2018 from Bipolar Lives,
Bradley, Dr. Tim (Sept. 4, 2015),Biopsychosocial Model, Foundations and Methods of Psychology, picture
Deacon, B. J. (2012). The biomedical model of mental disorder: A critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Clinical Psychology Review , 33 (7),
Harvard Medical School: Thyroid Clinic. (2011). When Depression Starts in the Neck. Harvard Medical .
Holtorf Medical Group. (2018). Hyperthyroidism and Anxiety: Correlational Findings and Study. Retrieved April 02, 2018, from Holtorf Medical Group:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. (2018). Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from U.S. Department of Health Services:
Weil, A. (2015). The Problem with Psychopharmacology's Biomedical Model. Psychotherapy Network.