Anxiety and Depression among Women with Hypothyroidism and Without Hypothyroidism at Tertiary Hospital, Chitwan: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background
Worldwide, approximately 1 in 10 women may have some form of hypothyroidism (most commonly subclinical hypothyroidism), with prevalence increasing substantially after middle age and in older women. Women with hypothyroidism experience substantially higher rates of depression, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive complaints, sleep problems, and reduced quality of life than women without thyroid disease. The objective of study to find out the anxiety and depression among women with hypothyroidism and without hypothyroidism.
Methods
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from May 26 to September 23, 2025. A total of 416 sample including 208 hypothyroidism cases, were selected from the endocrinology OPD using enumerative sampling, along with 208 non-hypothyroid patients from medicine OPD were selected as a comparison group. Data collection was done using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) through self- reported tool by face-to-face interview technique.
Results
The study found the mean age of participants was 42.31±12.59 years, with 47% aged between 41-64years. Majority were from nuclear families (68.3%), literate 90.9%, homemakers 41.3%, Hindu 82.7%, and 43.0% belonged to the Brahmin/Chhetri ethnicity. Among hypothyroid cases, 50.0% had anxiety and 14.9% had depression, compared to 3.8% anxiety and no depression in the non-hypothyroid group. Anxiety was significantly associated (p=0.001) with occupation (homemakers and students), while depression was significantly associated (p=0.049) with types of family and ethnicity, being more common in joint families than nuclear families (21.0% vs. 11.0%).
Conclusions
The prevalence of anxiety and depression was significantly more among women with hypothyroidism compared to those without. Management of anxiety and depression should be integral to the treatment of hypothyroidism; regular psychiatric assessment of the groups with higher prevalence is recommended.