Although anti-anxiety medications target the nervous system, a new study suggests that anxiety disorders may come from more of the endocrine system.
The thyroid gland
The thyroid gland produces two important hormones, T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triyodothyronine), which are involved in maintaining heart and muscle function, digestion, brain development and bone health.
T4 and T3 help produce and regulate the hormones adrenaline and dopamine.
Adrenaline is sometimes referred to as fighting or running hormone. It is associated with a sudden burst of energy, such as the one that occurs in response to a threat.
Dopamine is the pleasure hormone and reward of the brain, and too much (or too little) can affect a person’s sense of well-being and quality of judgment.
The implications of the study
Researchers did not investigate the role of sex and adrenal gland hormones in anxiety, although other research has pointed to the possible influence of the latter. Still, the team’s findings offer new hope for people with anxiety.
Anxiety treatments may be more effective when considering the role of the endocrine system. The new study suggests that anxiety is not exclusively a central nervous system disorder.
It is worth noting that, to date, this particular study has not undergone peer review and does not appear in a medical journal.
In addition, the study was relatively small, so scientists will need to replicate the findings in large-scale placebo-controlled studies before drawn solid conclusions.
The next step for researchers is broader research into the role of the endocrine system in anxiety disorders. They plan to explore the influence of sex hormones and the adrenal glands, including estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, progesterone and prolactin, on people with diagnosed anxiety disorders and inflamed thyroid glands.
