Depression & Your Thyroid: What You Need to Know

What You Need to Know About the Depression-Thyroid Connection

Thyroid and psychological health are often linked. If you develop a thyroid condition, you may also become depressed. This depression can lead to more problems with your thyroid which, in turn, can lead to further depression-a vicious cycle that is difficult to treat unless the problem is addressed on several levels.

Now you can determine whether the depression you're feeling may be connected to a thyroid problem. The authors of this book, a medical doctor and a psychologist, guide you through the facts about thyroid disorders, what the thyroid hormone does, and how it functions in relation to your psychological well-being. You'll learn a number of diet and lifestyle changes you can combine with conventional medical treatment to help correct a thyroid condition. You'll also learn psychological strategies you can use to overcome the depression that can result from a thyroid condition-thought monitoring, stress reduction, relationship enhancement, and more.

Gary Ross, MD, is an endocrinologist in private practice who specializes in the treatment of thyroid conditions. He lives in San Francisco, California.

Peter J. Bieling, Ph.D., is the manager for the Mood, Anxiety, and Women’s Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital and assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at McMaster’s University. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.