J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1996; 8:181-185
Copyright © 1996 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
A survey study of neuropsychiatric complaints in patients with Graves' disease
RA Stern, B Robinson, AR Thorner, JE Arruda, ML Prohaska and AJ Prange Jr
Neurobehavioral Research, Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903, USA.
One hundred thirty-seven patients with treated Graves' disease completed a
questionnaire pertaining to neuropsychiatric complaints. Psychiatric
symptoms, especially anxiety and irritability, were common prior to
treatment of hyperthyroidism. These complaints appeared to result in delays
in seeking treatment as well as delays in receiving appropriate diagnosis.
Subjects reported significantly worse memory, attention, planning, and
productivity while hyperthyroid than prior to becoming hyperthyroid, and,
although somewhat improved once euthyroid, they reported residual cognitive
deficits. These results suggest that neuropsychiatric impairments are
highly prevalent in Graves' disease, may lead to initial misdiagnosis or
delays in diagnosis of the endocrine disorder, and may continue even once
patients are believed to be euthyroid.
