High Serum Parathyroid Levels Linked With Major Depressive Disorder

A new systematic review published online in the journal Cureus found an association between increased serum parathyroid levels in patients with hyperparathyroidism and major depressive disorder (MDD). 

“Patients with increased serum parathyroid levels are usually linked to psychosis symptoms but not to depressive symptoms,” wrote study corresponding author Anjali Desai, MD, and coauthors from the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, California. “We conducted this systematic review to explore a correlation between depressive disorder and increased serum parathyroid levels, a major endocrinological pathology, and help establish mental wellness in patients suffering from hyperparathyroidism.”

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The review included 7 observational studies and 4 case reports published within the last decade that reported on depressive and anxiety symptoms in 833 adults with hyperparathyroidism.

The studies demonstrated a link between high serum parathyroid level, high serum calcium level, high serum alkaline phosphatase level, and low serum phosphorous level with greater depressive symptoms, researchers reported. Major depressive disorder severity appeared to improve significantly, however, with hyperparathyroidism treatment. 

“After a patient with hyperparathyroidism is treated for hypercalcemia or undergoes parathyroidectomy and the serum parathyroid levels are lowered, a decrease in severe depressive symptoms is noted,” the authors wrote.

The review article advised a need for depressive symptom assessment in patients with increased parathyroid levels and for additional research focusing on major depressive disorder in the patient population.

“We recommend that more studies should be done to check the pathophysiology of increased serum parathyroid levels and major depressive disorder neuropsychiatric symptoms,” the authors advised. “And more randomized control trials should be conducted to find the treatment effectiveness of depression in patients with hyperparathyroidism, so it can help improve mental health in patients suffering from hyperparathyroidism.”

Reference

Desai A, Bajgain A, Ali A, et al. Association of major depressive disorder in hyperparathyroidism: a systematic review. Cureus. 2023;15(6):e40150. doi:10.7759/cureus.40150