Is There a Link Between Mental Health and Autoimmune Diseases?

Mental health is an important part of overall well-being. Your mental health can affect your physical health, and vice versa. Autoimmune diseases, like lupus, hypothyroidism, and Type 1 diabetes, have been linked to mental health disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder. 

If you have an autoimmune disorder and think you may also have symptoms of a mental health condition, you are not alone. In this article, we will explore the link between the two and discuss your options for mental health treatment. 

Can autoimmune conditions cause mental health problems?

It makes sense that autoimmune diseases that directly affect the brain could cause mental health issues. Take multiple sclerosis and autoimmune encephalitis, for example, which can cause depression and psychosis (i.e., altered thinking, like hallucinations and delusions). But what about autoimmune diseases that tend to affect other parts of the body?

Studies have shown that many autoimmune conditions, like ulcerative colitis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis, are also associated with an increased risk of mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder and depression. And people with autoimmune thyroid disease have an increased chance of developing anxiety and depression. 

Not everyone with an autoimmune disease will have symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed with a mental health condition. But this doesn’t mean you still can’t experience some mental health-related symptoms. For example, many people with autoimmune conditions report having poor sleep, depressed mood, and a lower quality of life for both mental and physical health. Either way, it’s important to be on the lookout for symptoms of mental illness when you have an autoimmune disease.

How do autoimmune conditions cause mental health problems?

Researchers don’t fully understand how autoimmune diseases cause mental health conditions, but there are some theories:

• Inflammation: People with autoimmune diseases have higher levels of what are known as pro-inflammatory cytokines in their blood. These chemicals cause inflammation in the body and can also affect brain chemicals that regulate your mood and energy levels. This process can cause symptoms similar to depression, such as fatigue and issues with sleep and appetite.

• Stress: The stress of dealing with an autoimmune condition may lead to mental health problems. 

• Medications: Medications used to treat autoimmune conditions, such as steroids, can cause issues like psychosis and sleep disturbances. 

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As we will discuss later, dealing with these issues may lower your risk of developing a mental health condition.

Can autoimmune conditions cause brain fog?

Brain fog is a term used to describe symptoms such as feeling cloudy, being forgetful, and having difficulty concentrating. People with different conditions, like postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mild cognitive impairment, or autoimmune diseases report brain fog. It isn’t clear exactly what causes these symptoms, but researchers have a few theories. Some factors that may cause brain fog in people with autoimmune conditions include:

• Inflammation from the autoimmune disease affecting the brain

• Coexisting mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression

• Stress

• Pain

• Issues sleeping

• Medications 

So whether you have a mental health condition or an autoimmune disease, it’s possible to experience brain fog. 

Can stress, depression, and other mental health problems cause autoimmune disease?

Just like some autoimmune diseases may cause depression, the opposite is also true. Depression has been found to increase the risk of certain autoimmune diseases, including Grave’s disease, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease. 

Why this happens is not yet fully understood, but the psychological stress of depression may be to blame. Stress, in general, may lead to changes in the brain and nerves of the body. These neurological changes may eventually negatively impact the immune system, leading to autoimmune disease. So lowering stress can potentially prevent you from developing an autoimmune disorder.

Many other mental health conditions have been linked to autoimmune diseases. A study of 44,000 people with a mental health diagnosis (for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, ADHD, or anorexia) showed that they had a higher chance of also having at least one autoimmune disease, such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and Type 1 diabetes. People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also have a higher risk of being diagnosed with an autoimmune illness. 

How do you treat mental health problems when you have an autoimmune disease?

Often, treating the underlying autoimmune disease is enough to treat the associated mental health condition. In some cases, if the medications you take could be making things worse, then working with your provider to make some changes may be all that is needed. 

If the autoimmune disease is well treated but you are still experiencing mental health symptoms, there are several treatment options available, including seeing a mental health specialist. Speak with your healthcare provider so you can decide what works best for you.

The bottom line 

You may be wondering whether autoimmune diseases can cause mental health issues, and vice versa. It may come down to which is the chicken and which is the egg. 

While the science is still out on this issue, it’s likely that there is a link connecting the two. Fortunately, many treatment options are available for both autoimmune diseases and mental health conditions. So if you have been diagnosed with one condition, and you think you may be experiencing symptoms of the other, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider.

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Written by:

Aunna Pourang, MD

Aunna Pourang, MD, graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Medical Honors Program and is board-certified in family medicine (Mayo Clinic). She is also fellowship-trained in integrative medicine (Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine).

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

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