Are Mental Health Problems and Mindfulness Awareness Related to Levothyroxine Replacement in Adolescent Patients With Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Abstract

Considering the possible adverse effects of thyroid autoantibodies on the brain, the present study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in mental health difficulties and mindfulness awareness levels between subclinical Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients with and without levothyroxine (LT4) use. A case-control study was conducted. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were used to screen mental health difficulties and mindfulness awareness. Scale scores were compared by performing correlation analysis between the groups with respect to LT4 use and thyroid autoantibodies. Levothyroxine alone does not affect scale results. Higher thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) titers were positively correlated with the behavioral problems subscale of the SDQ, while awareness level in patients was inversely correlated with higher thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels.