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Thyroid Disease Linked to Psychopathy
Scientists from Ashkelon Academic College in Israel have discovered a connection between hyperthyroidism — an overactive thyroid gland — and “dark” personality traits, including psychopathy. The results of the study were published in the journal Current Psychology.
A total of 154 adult volunteers took part in an online survey. Based on medical history, 49 participants were diagnosed with an overactive thyroid gland, 52 with an underactive thyroid gland, and 53 had no detected thyroid disorders.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones affect metabolism, growth, and development of the body. A deficiency of these hormones slows down metabolic processes, which can lead to an overall decrease in bodily activity.
The study participants also completed specialized questionnaires to assess personality traits. In particular, volunteers were asked to indicate how strongly they agreed with statements such as “I have a unique talent for convincing people,” “Some people deserve to suffer,” and “I really enjoy violent movies and video games.”
Compared to the healthy control group, patients with hyperthyroidism more frequently exhibited traits of psychopathy. This was reflected in higher scores on questions related to impulsivity and lack of empathy. Volunteers with hyperthyroidism also scored higher on measures of sadism — pleasure derived from inflicting pain on others — and Machiavellianism — a tendency toward manipulation.
“Excessive physiological arousal in hyperthyroidism may be associated with emotional instability, impulsive behavior, and increased aggression. Psychologically, people with hyperthyroidism often experience chronic anxiety, irritability, and affective instability, which may intensify interpersonal antagonism,” the researchers noted.
The authors added that hyperthyroidism can affect anyone; however, the condition is ten times more common in women than in men. It most often occurs between the ages of 20 and 40.
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