Prediction of the Development of Depression in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism

The study investigated the relationship between gene polymorphisms and depression in 153 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in Western Ukraine. It found that the BDNF gene polymorphism (rs6265) was significantly associated with depression, while VDR and NMDA gene polymorphisms were not. There was a strong inverse relationship between depression and BDNF levels, and a moderate inverse correlation with fT4 and 25-OH Vitamin D levels. Conversely, a direct moderate correlation was observed between depression and TSH levels. The study concluded that BDNF, TSH, fT4, anti-TPO, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels were significant predictors for the risk of developing depression in these patients.