"Psychologists have discovered a surprising link between hyperthyroidism and dark personality traits - including psychopathy. Hyperthyroidism - which is about 10 times more common in women than men - occurs when the thyroid gland in the neck produces too many hormones. It can trigger a range of symptoms including mood swings, difficulty sleeping, palpitations and nervousness. Now, a study has revealed that people with the condition have higher levels of psychopathy, Machiavellianism and sadism compared to those with normal thyroid function."
"'These preliminary findings suggest that elevated thyroid hormone levels may be associated with a personality profile marked by greater antagonism and reduced empathic functioning,' the researchers said. The findings could help with the 'early identification' of risk factors for antisocial behaviour such as psychopathy - and even lead to an easy treatment, according to the experts. 'Effective treatment approaches may benefit from addressing both hormonal regulation and psychological well-being,' they concluded."
154 adults completed online surveys; 49 were categorized with overactive thyroid, 52 with underactive thyroid, and 53 without thyroid disorder. Questionnaires measured personality traits including agreement with statements like 'I have a unique talent for persuading people', 'Some people deserve to suffer' and 'I really enjoy violent films and video games'. Individuals with hyperthyroidism scored higher on psychopathy measures, especially impulsivity and callousness, and also showed elevated sadism and Machiavellianism compared to healthy controls. Elevated thyroid hormone levels were linked to greater antagonism and reduced empathic functioning. Findings suggest addressing hormonal regulation alongside psychological well-being may aid treatment and early risk identification.
Read at Mail Online
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