Association Between Emotional Stress, Autoimmune Disease, and Thyroid Abnormalities
| Author | Alireza Arefzadeh | en |
| Author | Romina Hamidi Rad | en |
| Author | Mehrshad Edalat | en |
| Author | Kimia Ghazi Vakili | en |
| Author | Soroush Nateghi Far | en |
| Author | Saeed Kargar-Soleimanabad | en |
| Orcid | Alireza Arefzadeh [0000-0001-8484-3088] | en |
| Orcid | Saeed Kargar-Soleimanabad [0000-0001-5602-3816] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-09-30 | en |
| Abstract | Context: This narrative review examines the association between emotional stress and autoimmune thyroid disease, particularly Graves’ disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis, and considers psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms relevant to thyroid autoimmunity. It also addresses the effects of stress on the immune system and on the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis. Evidence Acquisition: Relevant English-language studies were identified through searches of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science and were synthesized narratively. Studies unrelated to stress or autoimmune thyroid disease were excluded. Results: Observational studies have linked psychological stress to autoimmune thyroid disease, particularly Graves’ disease; however, findings are heterogeneous, and causality has not been established. Proposed mechanisms include activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines, and subsequent immune modulation affecting the Th1/Th2 balance. Stressful life events have been associated with the onset and clinical course of Graves’ disease, whereas evidence for Hashimoto thyroiditis remains limited and inconsistent. Chronic stress may also contribute to dysregulation of the HPT axis and thyroid dysfunction. The review also considers lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and educational level; other autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis; and the effects of stress on pain, inflammation, and the endocrine system. Conclusions: Stress may contribute to disease onset, progression, and symptom burden in susceptible individuals. Stress management and lifestyle modification may serve as useful supportive measures; however, further research is needed to clarify their roles in the pathogenesis, exacerbation, and treatment of autoimmune thyroid disease. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/ijpbs-168435 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/ijpbs/articles/168435 | en |
| Keyword | Autoimmune Diseases | en |
| Keyword | Emotional Stress | en |
| Keyword | Thyroid | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Association Between Emotional Stress, Autoimmune Disease, and Thyroid Abnormalities | en |
| Type | Review Article | en |
Files
Original bundle
1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
- Name:
- ijpbs-20-3-168435-publish-pdf.pdf
- Size:
- 403.61 KB
- Format:
- Adobe Portable Document Format
- Description:
- Article/s PDF