Effects of subclinical hypothyroidism treatment on psychiatric symptoms, muscular complaints, and quality of life

objectives: to evaluate the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism (sht) treatment on health-related quality of life (qol), psychiatric symptoms, clinical score, and muscle function. materials and methods: in this randomized double-blind study, patients were assigned either to treatment (n = 35) or placebo (n = 36). clinical and psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the zulewski, hamilton and beck scales. qol was assessed by the sf-36 questionnaire. assessments of quadriceps (qs) and inspiratory muscle (is) strength were performed by a chair dynamometer and a manuvacuometer. results: treatment improved is (+11.5 ± 17.2; p = 0.041), as did qol domains "pain" and "role physical" (+19.7 ± 15.2, 0.039 and +22.1 ± 47.5, p = 0.054; respectively). clinical and psychiatric symptoms showed similar responses to both interventions. conclusions: sht treatment improved is and physical aspects of qol, despite no impact in other muscle parameters. clinical score, psychiatric symptoms, and sf-36 domains, based on mental dimensions of qol may be more susceptible to "placebo effect" in patients with sht.