The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It releases hormones into the bloodstream that play a vital role in the body’s energy regulation. Too little thyroid gland activity, called hypothyroidism, leads to sluggishness and weight gain. Too much, called hyperthyroidism, leads to metabolic overdrive—rapid pulse, nervous energy, and anxiety. While the precise role of thyroid hormones in mood regulation remains unclear, it’s known for sure that normal thyroid functioning is essential for mood disorder treatments to be effective. If a person’s mood doesn’t respond to the usual treatments or if an effective treatment seems to stop working, a thyroid problem, especially abnormally low thyroid functioning, might be to blame.

Several clinical studies have shown that hypothyroidism........

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