Difference in symptom profile between generalized anxiety disorder and anxiety secondary to hyperthyroidism

Objective: The differential diagnosis between subclinical hyperthyroidism a nd Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is often a difficult problem to solve without laboratory examination. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether there are differences in the symptom profile between these two diso rders, Methods: Fifty patients took part in the study: Twenty-five were hyp erthyroid patients, and twenty-five were GAD patients. The diagnosis was ba sed on the TSH values and the DSM-IV criteria, respectively. The Hamilton A nxiety Scale (HAS) and the list of fifty-one symptoms produced by the detai led expansion of HBS items were used to quantify the anxiety symptomatology . The differences in the frequencies between the two diagnostic groups were calculated at each categorical response for every item of both scales. For ward Stepwise Discriminant Function Analysis was performed twice using HAS items and the fifty-one-list items. Results. The symptoms of anxiety in sub clinical hyperthyroidism were not identical to those of GAD. Four Hyperthyr oid/Anxiety Indices (HAI I-IV) were developed. These indices reach optimum classification of patients (3 of them reach 100% sensitivity and specificit y). Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest that it is possibl e to differentiate between GAD and subclinical cases of hyperthyroidism by the careful study of clinical symptomatology, This may be of particular hel p in isolated areas without laboratory support, but replication of the indi ces in other samples is indicated.