The number of people who cite unusually stressful experiences before the onset of hyperthyroidism seems to bear out the theory of stress as a precipitating factor. While others can come through the same upheavals without developing thyroid disease, some perhaps are predisposed to it. On the other hand, it can be argued that the illness itself, before its symptoms are manifested, is contributing to the situation of stress. The physician must also be careful to check the thyroid in cases where psychiatric medications must be taken over a long period. Thyroid hormones have been used in the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions.
Some drugs used for the treatment of mental illness can have an effect on the thyroid gland.
Mental Abnormalities and Thyroid Disorders Hyperthyroidism Attention has been directed to the possible role of stress or emotional disturbance in precipitating hyperthyroidism. Although hyperthyroidism may follow some emotional upheaval or stressful event, the possibility exists that the emotional upheaval prior to the illness may have been the by-product of the early phase of thyroid hyperactivity itself before the complete picture of the illness becomes manifested. Similarly, the psychological constitution of those who develop the illness has been extensively studied, but with no good consensus between various personality descriptions given. I believe the role of personality factors has been overemphasized. In general, the psychological disturbances show satisfactory resolution with adequate treatment of the thyroid hyperactivity.