The human thyroid hormones have a direct correlation with the condition of depression and any screening should include a T3 depression diagnosis. The T3 hormone, or triiodothyronine, is used by the body to stimulate oxygen usage and protein production by cells. Patients who have abnormal thyroid activity and experience depression should be tested to determine their free T3, free T4, and antibodies levels. In addition, adrenal function should be assessed as it could also be a potential cause for depression. While research is currently being done on how thyroid hormones affect brain chemistry disorders, it is not entirely understood why these hormones play such a large part in many cases of depression. As research between depression and thyroid function overlaps, more information is becoming available that may highlight this connection. The one thing that is known is that the brain contains more T3 receptors than any other tissue, therefore T3 and depression screening should go hand in hand.
For patients who have not had success with typical antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or monoamine oxidase inhibitors may gain some benefits from taking T3 for depression treatment. A recent study has shown that patients who receive doses of T3 coupled with a typical antidepressant have favorable results. Women had more of a reaction to the drug, with 62.5% reporting effectiveness. None of the men who received T3 supplements reported an improvement in condition. Most experts think that further testing of T3 for depression treatment will yield better results. Those patients who are taking T3 supplements receive them by one of two methods. The fist is synthetic T3 pills, known by the drug name of Cytomel. The other option is taking dessicated thyroid, which adds all thyroid hormones, including T1, T2, T3, T4, and calcitonin.
High dosages of T3 for depression treatment have been very successful and there have been no reported cases in which T3 for depression treatment has directly caused an worsening of the patient’s condition. However, low T3 levels have been observed in many patients with clinical depression. This can occur for any number of reasons, but is most commonly inherent in the patient’s body or is the result of an autoimmune attack on the thyroid. In the case of autoimmune attacks, it is impossible to test the true levels of a patient’s T3. Because of the attack, levels will alternate between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. For patients who continue to experience depression while having normal or elevated thyroid hormone levels, further T3 and depression screening should focus on the adrenal glands and their output.
There is a direct connection between the hormones of the human thyroid and the condition of depression, and further research will eventually illuminate the missing link in understanding this connection. Any patient experiencing depression who believes that it may be related to thyroid problems should visit a local doctor to have the necessary testing done. Patients who speak to a physician about a possible T3 depression diagnosis may find that treating hypothyroidism may also play a part in treating depression as well.