Just been looking at this piece and I am sorry to say I don't think the writer "gets it" and I'm even thinking of contacting her in the brazen way that I do sometimes. This really looks like a case of psych drug harm, including drug induced psychosis to me. Whether the thyroid problem really preceded all the treatment or was worsened by it is an issue I'm trying to look into right now. It's pretty mind boggling to me that the writer never even seems to consider that maybe her treatment was creating some of her problems. Blind faith in one's psychiatrist -- where does it come from? It's sad.

That is a fascinating piece, thanks. My mom, a nurse, had hoped that my disorder was caused by something wrong with my thyroid. She was disappointed to find out mine is completely normal. Wouldn't that have been nice?

It used to be the standard of care to rule out medical causes of psychiatric/psychological problems, yet that does not seem to be the case anymore in general. Another thing for folks to have checked out medically with depression symptoms is their kidney function. 60% of folks with chronic kidney disease, starting at stage 3, well before most folks know they have kidney disease, are depressed. And kidney disease is on the upswing in the U.S. Caught early there is a good chance for some folks to slow down the process to failure or even stop it.

You would think that with the ascension of the biopsych model pshrinks would be eager to do all manner of medical tests to find the cause of mental distress but it seems the opposite is true. When was the last time you heard of anyone getting an MRI to back up a psych diagnosis? It'd be a bad idea, still it doesn't happen. As for lab tests, cheap to do a blood panel and urineanalyis on every one who comes to a pshrink but they only get paid is there's a psych problem and don't make money off of labs.

Endocrinology is overlooked far too often, and thyroid especially can cause problems that mimic mental illness symptoms. I also know for a fact that the medications can cause those problems. Li for example shot my daughter's thyroid off the charts, and corrected itself with the removal of the drug. Often doctors will add synthetic thyroid medications to counter that, rather than consider drug removal,replace Li[for example] or a new one if meds are in fact needed. Re: Nathaniel's comment, I understand. Sara, since when have you been brazen? that made me laugh, because you always write sensible smart comments, that never read brazen to me, Ive actually been brazen and wished i was more like you. :)

depression linked to thyroid problem.-could be adrenal/thyroid but most of all hormones-
their are many hormones that can cause upsets and
antibodies are everywhere.

Stephany, what I meant is that I sometimes "brazenly" write to people like the author of this article (I already found her e-mail contact by googling her in fact) and tell them they are writing about psych drug harm and don't even know it. I've written to some pretty hot shot doctors too and told them their research stinks (and why). I put a notch in my belt when they reply and I have quite a few notches now. It means something I said might have tweaked them.

That's a great example of advocating re: meds, etc. Ive done it a few times, and I was worse in that regard, I called a researcher and discussed his study being done using Zoloft in kids. He was nice, took a long time to talk and made sure my daughter could call him as well.[due to her adverse reaction to Zoloft]. Okay, I like that kinda brazen.

Hey, Sara, have you ever written to Fuller Torrey? I have several times and never received a response, except for once when he posted my comments on his blog and then tried (not very successfully) to refute them point by point.

Years ago, they did give me a CAT scan to rule out brain tumours, but this was after almost killing me with antipsychotics and electroshock. I see from my records that my "ventricles are normal." Shouldn't that have ruled out schizophrenia, according to Torrey? I realize an MRI gives more 411 than a CAT but still.

Hey everyone, the article mentions hyperparathyroidism, which is not a thyroid disorder. It's a parathyroid disorder (different glands; very near by, hence the name).