Depression
Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Functional Medicine Notebook
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Etiology
Elevated urinary levels of 3-hydroxyphenyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid (HPHPA) and other markers of dysbiotic overgrowth with Clostridia spp. are common in depression [GP].Some practioners have noted an association between hypothyroidism and depression (akinetic and agitated); treatment of these disorders appears to also benefit depression [DeGroot1996; Zondek1944b; Starr2005, pg 124].
Diagnosis
- Basal body temperature below 97.8 degrees F, elevated TSH, or depressed T3 (suggests hypothyroidism).
- Organic Acid Test (elevated markers for gut dysbiosis).
Differential Diagnosis
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Hypothyroidism
- Vitamin B12 deficiency [stuart2006].
Treatment
- Treat dysbiosis if present.
- Treat hypothyroidism if present.
Hypotheses
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has often been attributed to inadequate exposure to full-spectrum light (e.g. sunlight) in the winter. However, hypothyroidism is also associated with SAD, and it has been proposed that cold weather places additional demand on the thyroid [Starr2005, pg 103].ICD-9 Codes
| ICD9-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
References
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
[Baumgartner1993] Baumgartner A, et al. Thyroid hormones and depressive disorders - clinical overview and perspectives. Part 2. Thyroid hormones and the central nervous system - basic research. Nervenarzt 64:11-20 (1993). Cited by [Starr2005].
[DeGroot1996] L.J. DeGroot et al. The Thyroid and Its Diseases, Sixth Edition. New York: Churchill Livingston (1996). Cited by [Starr2005].
[Shaw2008] Shaw W. Biological Treatments for Autism & PDD, Third Edition. (2008).
[Starr2005] Mark Starr. Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic. Columbia, MO: Mark Starr Trust (2005).
[Stuart2006] J.J. Stuart & S.M. Pacholok. Could it be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses. Sanger, CA: Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press (2006).
[Zondek1944b] H. Zondek & G. Wolfsohn. Myxoedema and Psychosis. Lancet 2:438-439 (1944). [Cited by Starr2005].
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This web page is http://www.DrWeyrich.com/disorders/depression.html - Phone Dr. Weyrich at (480) 423-6952