Exploring the Genetic Link Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Common Psychiatric Disorders: A Specific Hormonal or a General Autoimmune Comorbidity
An erratum to this article was published (Thyroid, May 2023 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
Our findings highlight an underlying association between autoimmune hypothyroidism and mood disorders, which is not mediated through THs and in which autoimmunity plays a prominent role.
Study context
- Population
- Subjects from UK BiobankUK Biobank
- Participants
- 497,726 subjects
- Exposure
- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, TSH and free thyroxine (fT4) levels vs risk of depression, BIP and anxiety disorders
- Outcome
- Association of thyroid disorders with psychiatric disorders
Methodological detailsUK Biobank cohort and genetic correlation analysis, multiple phenotypic and genotypic databases, genome-wide genetic correlation, local genomic region analysis
- UK Biobank cohort and genetic correlation analysis
- Multiple phenotypic and genotypic databases
- Genome-wide genetic correlation
- Local genomic region analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder (MDD), OR
- 1.31, p = 5.29 × 10-89
- Hypothyroidism and BIP, OR
- 1.55, p = 0.0038
- Hypothyroidism and ANX, OR
- 1.16, p = 6.22 × 10-8
- Hyperthyroidism and MDD, OR
- 1.11, p = 0.0034
- Hyperthyroidism and ANX, OR
- 1.34, p = 5.99 × 10-⁶
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Genetic correlation (coheritability) of thyroid disease with psychiatric disorders
- Thyroid disease and major depressive disorder, rg
- 0.17, p = 2.7 × 10-⁴
- Thyroid disease and ANXs, rg
- 0.17, p = 6.7 × 10-⁶
- Genetic correlation particularly strong at MHC locus on chromosome 6; other parts of the genome also contributed
- P < 10-⁵
- Neither TSH nor fT4 levels genetically correlated with mood disorders
Original publication
Exploring the Genetic Link Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Common Psychiatric Disorders: A Specific Hormonal or a General Autoimmune Comorbidity. Thyroid. Published 14 February 2023. doi:10.
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