Stress and Depression in Graves` Disease

To evaluate the incidence of stress and depression in Graves ́ disease, given the presence or absence of exophthalmos and its relation to gender and age, in adults attending a free university healthcare service in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was a cohort study. Adult individuals with a diagnosis of Graves' disease were studied, from both genders, divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of exophthalmos. Beck Depression Inventory and the Lipp Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults were administered to both groups when they were in thyrotoxicosis (compensated or in hyperthyroidism). A total of 82 individuals were studied of which 55 with exophthalmos while 27 was without exophthalmos. Frequency of stress and depression was not significantly different between groups (X2calc=0.251; p=0.308) and this result was not related to gender and age. However, when comparing the concomitance of stress and depression with gender, a significant increase was found in the frequency of symptoms in women with exophthalmos (MacNemar Test p=0.033*), but this was not related to age. The presence of exophthalmos in Graves ́ Disease contributed to the coexistence of stress and depression in women, but not in men.