Effects of subclinical hypothyroidism treatment on psychiatric symptoms, muscular complaints, and quality of life

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia 2012-03, Vol.56 (2), p.128-136
• Main Authors: Reuters, Vaneska Spinelli, Almeida, Cloyra de Paiva, Teixeira, Patrícia de Fátima dos Santos, Vigário, Patrícia dos Santos, Ferreira, Márcia Martins, Castro, Carmen Lucia Natividade de, Brasil, Marco Antônio, Costa, Antônio José Leal da, Buescu, Alexandru, Vaisman, Mário
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Double-Blind Method; ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy - adverse effects; Humans; Hypothyroidism - drug therapy; Hypothyroidism - physiopathology; Hypothyroidism - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength - drug effects; Pain - physiopathology; Placebo Effect; Quadriceps Muscle - drug effects; Quadriceps Muscle - physiopathology; Quality of Life; Respiratory Muscles - drug effects; Respiratory Muscles - physiopathology; Thyroxine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0004-2730; 1677-9487; 1677-9487; 0004-2730
• DOI: 10.1590/s0004-27302012000200006

To evaluate the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) treatment on health-related quality of life (QoL), psychiatric symptoms, clinical score, and muscle function. In this randomized double-blind study, patients were assigned either to treatment (n = 35) or placebo (n = 36). Clinical and psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the Zulewski, Hamilton and Beck scales. QoL was assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire. Assessments of quadriceps (QS) and inspiratory muscle (IS) strength were performed by a chair dynamometer and a manuvacuometer. Treatment improved IS (+11.5 ± 17.2; p = 0.041), as did QoL domains "Pain" and "Role Physical" (+19.7 ± 15.2, 0.039 and +22.1 ± 47.5, p = 0.054; respectively). Clinical and psychiatric symptoms showed similar responses to both interventions. sHT treatment improved IS and physical aspects of QoL, despite no impact in other muscle parameters. Clinical score, psychiatric symptoms, and SF-36 domains, based on mental dimensions of QoL may be more susceptible to "placebo effect" in patients with sHT.