A clinical study was conducted to investigate correlations between thyroid function and severity of anxiety or panic attacks in patients with panic disorder.

The authors of the study examined 66 out-patients with panic disorder and measured their free thriiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Results of Study
The more severe the panic attacks were, the higher the TSH levels were. In addition, severity of anxiety correlated negatively with free T4 levels.

Dr. Grisanti's Comments: The key to successful management of patients suffering with panic attacks and anxiety requires a careful review of the patient's thyroid function. All anxiety and panic attack sufferers should ask their personal physicians to order the appropriate thyroid labs to rule out or rule in a thyroid disorder.

Kikuchi M, Komuro R, Oka H, Kidani T, Hanaoka A, Koshino Y. Relationship between anxiety and thyroid function in patients with panic disorder.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Jan;29(1):77-81.