Xie Q, Xin YC, Yang LH, Liu C, Tian ZD, Shang XL. Investigation of depressive symptoms after thyroid cancer surgery: Logistic regression analysis and adjustment strategy. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(11): 110018 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.110018]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Ling Shang, Chief Physician, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, No. 12 Changqing Road, Zhangjiakou 075000, Hebei Province, China. xieqi811@126.com
Research Domain of This Article
Psychiatry
Article-Type of This Article
Retrospective Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Nov 19, 2025 (publication date) through Nov 3, 2025
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Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Psychiatry
ISSN
2220-3206
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Xie Q, Xin YC, Yang LH, Liu C, Tian ZD, Shang XL. Investigation of depressive symptoms after thyroid cancer surgery: Logistic regression analysis and adjustment strategy. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(11): 110018 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.110018]
Qi Xie, Yun-Chao Xin, Li-Hang Yang, Chuan Liu, Ze-Dong Tian, Xiao-Ling Shang, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou 075000, Hebei Province, China
Author contributions: Xie Q designed the study; Yang LH, Liu C, and Tian ZD contributed to the analysis of the manuscript; Shang XL guided the research direction; and Xie Q and Xin YC were involved in the data collection and writing of this article. All the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Clinical Study on Perioperative Issues Related to Thyroidectomy, No. 20241209; Risk Factors and Coping Strategies for Postoperative Cough in Thyroid Nodules, No. 2322152D; and Research on Individualized Surgical Treatment Strategies for Thyroid Tumors Jicai Pre-recovery, No. [2020] 397.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University.
Informed consent statement: All study participants and their legal guardians provided written informed consent before recruitment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Ling Shang, Chief Physician, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, No. 12 Changqing Road, Zhangjiakou 075000, Hebei Province, China. xieqi811@126.com
Received: July 8, 2025 Revised: August 9, 2025 Accepted: August 25, 2025 Published online: November 19, 2025 Processing time: 117 Days and 22.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Post-thyroidectomy patients frequently experience depressive symptoms triggered by surgical trauma, fluctuating thyroid hormone levels, and the psychological burden of long-term surveillance; however, large-scale multivariable-adjusted risk-factor data remain scarce.
AIM
To determine the prevalence and predictors of postoperative depression, and propose tailored mitigation strategies.
METHODS
We enrolled 108 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomies at The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University between January 2023 and January 2025. Depression was assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), while coping styles and social support were evaluated using the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire and Perceived Social Support Scale. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk and protective factors.
RESULTS
The mean SDS score was 52.58 ± 10.20; 62 patients (57.4%) met the criteria for depression (mild 32.4%, moderate 15.7%, severe 9.3%). Univariate analyses revealed higher depression rates among patients aged ≥ 60 years, those with ≤ high-school education, monthly family income < 3000 yuan, 131I therapy, and avoidance/surrender coping; and lower social support (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression showed income < 3000 yuan (OR = 5.26, 95%CI: 1.89-14.60), 131I therapy (OR = 5.70, 95%CI: 1.91-17.01), and avoidance/surrender coping (OR = 4.77, 95%CI: 1.51-15.11) as independent risk factors, whereas higher social support was protective (OR = 0.22, 95%CI: 0.09-0.54).
CONCLUSION
Depression is common after thyroidectomy, and is driven by socioeconomic, treatment-related, and psychosocial factors. Targeted interventions that address coping skills and bolster social support should be integrated into postoperative care.
Core Tip: This study revealed a 57.4% prevalence of depression in post-thyroidectomy patients, with key risk factors including low family income (< 3000 yuan/month, OR = 5.26), 131I therapy (OR = 5.70), and avoidant coping style (OR = 4.77). Strong social support had a significant protective effect (OR = 0.22). These findings highlight the critical need for routine depression screening and targeted psychosocial interventions, particularly in patients undergoing 131I treatment or exhibiting maladaptive coping behaviors. The identification of modifiable risk factors (coping styles) and protective factors (social support) provides actionable targets for improving mental health outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors.
