The association between depression and thyroid disorders in a regionally representative Canadian sample

Psychol Health Med. 2012;17(3):335-45. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2011.608808. Epub 2011 Sep 26.

Abstract

A subsample of six provinces (n = 67,621) from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey was used to determine the gender-specific prevalence of depression among those with and without thyroid disorders. Information was not available on the type of thyroid disorder. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the odds and socio-demographic correlates of depression among those with and without thyroid disorders. Women had a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid disorders (9.3%) and depression (6.6%) than men (2.4% and 3.7%, respectively). Thyroid disorders were associated with 22% higher odds of depression in women after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, but no association was found in men. Among women with and without thyroid disorders, younger age, lower income, and limitations in Activities in Daily Living (ADL) were associated with higher odds of depression. Results suggest that women with thyroid disorders are more vulnerable to depression, and socio-demographic correlates of depression are similar among women with and without thyroid disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Chronic Disease
  • Comorbidity
  • Demography
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / complications
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prevalence
  • Sex Distribution
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Thyroid Diseases / complications
  • Thyroid Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult