Somatic Symptomatology and Generalized Anxiety in Patients with Hyperthyroidism: A Comparative Case-Control Study

Hyperthyroidism is frequently associated with psychiatric symptoms, particularly anxiety and somatic complaints, yet the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and these psychological manifestations remains incompletely understood. This case-control study examined somatic symptoms and anxiety symptom severity in ۶۰ hyperthyroid patients recruited from private endocrinology clinics compared to ۶۰ demographically matched healthy controls in Yazd, Iran. Participants completed the Somatic Symptom Questionnaire (Lacourt et al., ۲۰۱۳) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Hamilton, ۱۹۵۹), with data analyzed using discriminant function analysis, MANOVA, and Pearson correlations. Discriminant analysis revealed one significant function (Wilks' λ = ۰.۶۸۷, χ²(۲) = ۴۳.۹۷, p < .۰۰۱) with a canonical correlation of ۰.۵۶۰, accounting for ۳۱.۴% of variance in group membership. The model correctly classified ۸۳.۳% of participants overall, with ۸۱.۷% sensitivity for identifying patients and ۸۵.۰% specificity for identifying controls. Significant differences between groups were observed across nine of ten symptom dimensions (all p ≤ .۰۰۲), with respiratory symptoms showing a trend (p = .۰۱۴). No significant effects of gender, marital status, or age on symptom presentation were found within the patient group (all p > .۰۵). Hyperthyroid patients exhibit significantly elevated somatic and anxiety symptoms compared to healthy individuals, independent of demographic variables. These findings highlight the necessity of integrated psychosomatic assessment and intervention in thyroid disorder management.

کلیدواژه ها:

Keywords: hyperthyroidism ، somatic symptom disorder ، Generalized Anxiety Disorder ، psychosomatic symptoms ، thyroid dysfunction