Trusted Resources: Evidence & Education
Scientific literature and patient education texts
The Impact of Graves’ Disease and Its Treatment on Handwriting Characteristics
source: Thyroid: Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association
year: 2014
authors: Papi G, Botti C, Corsello SM, Ciardullo AV, Pontecorvi A, Hegedüs L
summary/abstract:Background:
Thyroid hormones are crucial for metabolism in all tissues in humans, including the nervous system and muscles, and could thus affect handwriting, which is the synthesis of complex and fine movements. Hyperthyroidism, characterized by symptoms such as tremor and weakness, could affect handwriting, although this has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate handwriting characteristics before and after therapy for hyperthyroid Graves’ disease (GD).
Methods:
Twenty-two patients (15 women, 7 men) with untreated GD (median age: 44 years; range: 20-70 years) were asked to write a “standard text” before and 12 months after being rendered euthyroid. The letters underwent a standardized detailed analysis by a handwriting expert, through inspection and stereoscopic microscope and magnifying glass.
Results:
All patients demonstrated handwriting variations, perceptible even to direct observation. Graphological examination showed statistically significant changes after patients become euthyroid, in the following parameters: size of letters (4.5±1.1 vs. 5.9±1.3 mm; p<0.01), distance between letters (62.9±1.1 vs. 55.2±0.8 mm; p<0.01), width of letters (1.75±0.06 vs. 2.2±0 .06 mm; p<0.01), distance between words (216.2±3.2 vs. 198.7±2.4 mm; p<0.01), extension of letters (8.7±0.2 vs. 7.7±0.2 mm; p<0.01), angles (17±0.3 vs. 15.8±0.4 mm; p<0.01), and groove depth (0.2±0.05 vs. 0.4±0.05 mm; p<0.01).
Conclusions:
Hyperthyroid GD was associated with significant changes in handwriting in all patients. Following recovery from hyperthyroidism, a state of hypertrophic and contracted handwriting resulted in greater fluency and fluidity. Variations in handwriting should be included as signs/symptoms in GD.
DOI: 10.1089/thy.2013.0668
read more
myBinderRelated Content
-
Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?You may want to have a say in this decis...
-
The Efficacy of Rituximab Combined with 131I for Ophthalmic Outcomes of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy PatientsPurpose: The purpose of this study is t...
-
Cancer Mortality Following Treatment for Adult HyperthyroidismContext: High-dose iodine 131 is the tr...
-
The Effect of Short-Term Treatment With Lithium Carbonate on the Outcome of Radioiodine Therapy in Patients With Lon...Objective: The outcome of radioiodine t...
-
Structural Brain Changes in Graves’ Hyperthyroidism may be of Autoimmune OriginIn Graves’ disease (GD), brain-derived...
-
Predicting Risk of Recurrent Thyrotoxicosis Following Thionamide Withdrawal in Graves’ DiseaseBackground/Aim: Thionamides are a safe ...
-
Radioactive Iodine Can Be First-Line for Hyperthyroidism, Says UKNew UK guidelines for the treatment of h...
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
Powered by
Facebook
Google