Abstract

ALMEIDA, Ana Cláudia Cardoso; PINHO-COSTA, Luís de  and  SOUSA, Hélder. Graves' disease: the patient's view and biopsychosocial impact - a case report. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.6, pp.399-407. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v34i6.11853.

Introduction: This case intends to emphasize the importance of the role of the family physician, not only in the clinical suspicion of Graves’ disease and associated complications, but also in the adaptation to living with the disease, given the psychosocial morbidity associated with disfiguring proptosis and/or diplopia, both of which have a marked impact on the functional status and well-being of patients. Case report: A 29 year-old female, with irrelevant pathological history, was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, with associated ophthalmopathy causing retro-ocular pain and diplopia, which significantly affected her daily life. Despite stabilization of thyroid function with the treatment, bilateral exophthalmia progressed. In this context, she developed dissatisfaction with her body image, altered identity (before and after the diagnosis), and depression, culminating in a suicide attempt by drug intoxication. Discussion: Family physicians should be aware of the negative impact on mental and physical health, social and economic skills, and on the quality of life of these patients. In this case, the patient was not only physically ill, but also presented psychological distress due to Grave’s ophtalmopathy, which were responsible for a severe impact on her daily living.

Keywords : Graves’ disease; Grave’s ophtalmopathy; Quality of life; Exophthalmos; Hyperthyroidism.

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