PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Hypothyroidism is generally considered an autoimmune condition, and typical medical management involves taking levothyroxine (synthetic thyroid hormone) for life. This case report details the results of a mind-body intervention (MBI) called the Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) used to treat a 28-year-old Caucasian female presenting with symptoms and bloodwork markers associated with two years of hypothyroidism and a long history of stress. The patient\'s medical doctor provided a diagnosis of hypothyroidism after blood tests showed that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were high at 6.87 mIU/L (where the acceptable range is 0.40-3.50 mIU/L) and free T4 (FT4) levels were low at 8.6 pmol/L (where the acceptable range is 9.0-19.0 pmol/L). Psychometric tests were completed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment to evaluate changes in mental health and emotional well-being. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) revealed a high degree of childhood trauma that may have predisposed to the underlying autoimmune thyroid dysfunction. At the conclusion of the treatment period, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 were within normal ranges and psychometric indicators normalized. We hypothesize that these changes may be due to the stress-reducing mechanism of NET and outline possible mechanisms via the Psycho-Immune-Neuroendocrine (PINE) network. The PINE network model asserts that chronic stress acts as a potential driver of pathophysiology that can lead to one or more medical and mental health conditions. While further studies with larger sample sizes are required to establish whether these results could be extrapolated to a wider population, the results of this case suggest that it may be pertinent to consider co-management of subclinical hypothyroidism with a relatively quick and cost-effective MBI such as NET.
摘要：
甲状腺功能减退通常被认为是一种自身免疫性疾病，典型的医疗管理包括终身服用左甲状腺素（合成甲状腺激素）。该病例报告详细介绍了一种称为神经情绪技术（NET）的身心干预（MBI）的结果，该技术用于治疗一名28岁的白种人女性，其症状和血液标志物与两年的甲状腺功能减退症和长期的历史压力。患者的医生在血液检查后诊断为甲状腺功能减退，显示促甲状腺激素（TSH）水平高，为6.87mIU/L（可接受范围为0.40-3.50mIU/L），游离T4（FT4）水平低，为8.6pmol/L（可接受范围为9.0-19.0pmol/L）。在基线和治疗12周后完成心理测试，以评估心理健康和情绪健康状况的变化。不良儿童经历问卷（ACE-Q）揭示了高度的儿童创伤，可能易感潜在的自身免疫性甲状腺功能障碍。治疗期结束时，血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）和游离T4在正常范围内，心理测量指标恢复正常。我们假设这些变化可能是由于NET的减压机制，并概述了通过心理-免疫-神经内分泌（PINE）网络的可能机制。PINE网络模型断言，慢性压力是病理生理学的潜在驱动因素，可导致一种或多种医学和心理健康状况。虽然需要更大样本量的进一步研究来确定这些结果是否可以外推到更广泛的人群，本病例的结果提示,亚临床甲状腺功能减退症可能需要考虑与相对快速且具有成本效益的MBI(如NET)共同治疗.
